tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71390540442504460392018-02-17T14:08:10.797-08:00FROM THE MIND OF FIRE~ ~ ~ WHOEVER ~ ~ ~ READS ~ ~ ~ THIS ~ ~ LET ~ ~ ~ HIM ~ ~ ~ UNDERSTAND ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ www.fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.comBlogger199125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-68348609124630428172018-02-14T16:48:00.000-08:002018-02-14T16:59:16.181-08:00SEVEN ‘FROM The HEART of JESUS’ LOVE-LETTERS to the SEVEN CHURCHES of REVELATION - To The Church of LAODICEA REV 3:14-21<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_-HOD55VIYc/VbxKUCJ0KUI/AAAAAAAABRE/zOfcJ6ZdOCw/w960-h720/1457587_467602323361437_158464383_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_-HOD55VIYc/VbxKUCJ0KUI/AAAAAAAABRE/zOfcJ6ZdOCw/w960-h720/1457587_467602323361437_158464383_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><b><u>Church #7 LAODICEA:</u></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">If the church at Philadelphia was given an "open door" (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 3:8</span></b>), individuals at Laodicea are told of another door, one that they must open themselves (this refutes the idea in Calvinism that we have no choice in the process of salvation, that God determines apart from us, who will and won’t be saved): “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 3:20</span></b>)”. In pictures of Jesus "knocking at the heart's door" you will notice that there is no door knob on the outside.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">This is a door which can only be opened from within.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">What is wrong is that Jesus is standing <i>outside the door, excluded from the banquet like a homeless stranger!</i> The earnest plea, though directed first to the church at Laodicea, is strategically placed near the end of these <u>Seven Love Letters from Christ's last appeal to any congregation that has shut him out</u>. The beautiful "invitation" is at the same time a <i>severe and scathing indictment of a church that is self-sufficient, independent of Christ, complacent where godliness is concerned and contented in the world – only marginally, barely recognizably&nbsp;Christian!!</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><i></i></span><br /><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ferrelljenkins.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/lycus-river-valley_sm2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="483" data-original-width="800" height="241" src="https://ferrelljenkins.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/lycus-river-valley_sm2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot;, sans-serif;">Laodicea was situated southeast of Philadelphia in the Lycus River valley. Its congregation was one of two of the seven (the other being Ephesus), to receive epistles both from the apostles Paul and John.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">Paul in Colossians speaks of his strenuous efforts "for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally" (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">COL 2:1</span></b>). He mentions his coworker Epaphras, who had brought the Christian message to the region (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">COL 1:7</span></b>) and was still "working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis" (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">COL 4:13</span></b>).&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">He sends greetings "to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house", requesting that "after this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea" (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">COL 4:15-16</span></b>).</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">The site where Laodicea once stood includes an elaborate fountain and a water tower supplied by an aqueduct from hot springs at the site of modern Denizli, four miles south. Not surprisingly, many have suggested a possible local reference here, "a play on words, contrasting what may have been the tepid water of the aqueduct at Laodicea with the possibly fresher and colder water at Colossae and with the very hot water of the cascades at Hierapolis" (<i>Finegan</i> 1981:182).</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">By the time Revelation was written, the Christian community in Laodicea and vicinity seems to have prospered . . . boasting, I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 3:17</span></b>; compare that boast with "Babylon the Great" according to <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 18:7</span></b>). But in contrast to the church at Smyrna, who was materially poor but rich in God's sight (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 2:9</span></b>), this church is wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><u>A valuable lesson here</u>: never make spiritual assessment of your life based on your own perceptions, insights and judgments alone (Examine yourself, yes: <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 COR 13:5</span></b>) but allow the Word of God and the Spirit of God to shine into and reflect your heart (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">PSALM 139:23-24</span></b>) – because He knows our hearts far better than even we do!</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">Consider Peter’s boast to “never deny [the LORD]” with his terrible failure, denying the LORD three times – exactly as the LORD had previously warned him.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">The promise to the "overcomer" at Laodicea reveals the hidden presupposition of all the similar promises in every one of the seven messages, that is, that Jesus is Himself the model for what it means to "overcome," or "conquer." The promise is, "To him [that is, to anyone] who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne" (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 3:21</span></b>).&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">Those who "overcome" (or "conquer" or "triumph") in every congregation will do so in the same way Jesus did. Thus, the conclusion to the seven messages sets the stage for John's subsequent visions of the triumph of Jesus and His people over the powers of evil (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 5:5-6</span></b>).</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">The above commentary on the church of Laodicea based in part from the following <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/Rev/Message-Laodicea">link</a> (Please note that this author does not subscribe to any endorsements made by <i>BIBLEGATEWAY.com</i> in regards to contemplative prayer and <a href="https://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=10163">Spiritual Formation</a>).</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">REV 3:14</span></u></b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">14&nbsp;</span></span></sup></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">And unto the angel of the <u>church of the Laodiceans</u> write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God</span>; <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">For the seventh time we read a description of the LORD that He makes of Himself, relating that description to some need of the church He is addressing. Here in Laodicea He identifies Himself as the “Amen”. Amen, meaning “it is true, or truth or the exclamation of truth” (that’s why when we hear someone preaching and something is declared that strikes a chord in us and we shout out “Amen!” It is truth!). As well as Amen He is also the “faithful and true witness” – Laodicea was not in accord with the truth of God; their witness before the LORD was a failure as was their faithfulness to Him. Being a faithful and true witness, He is going to ‘tell it like it is’:<br /><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">PROV 27:6<br />5 Open rebuke is better than secret love.<br />6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The LORD also declares that He is “the beginning of the creation of God”. Jehovah’s Witnesses and other cults like to use this verse (among others) in an attempt to prove that Christ was a created being. However, the word for ‘beginning’ in Greek is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">arche</i>, and among its various definitions, it can mean “origin” or “the active cause” of the creation of God.<br /><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">HEBREWS 1:2 <br />Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds</span></b>;<br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 1:3<br /><sup><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">3&nbsp;</span></sup>All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Did you catch that? Without <u>HIM was nothing made that <i>was</i> made</u>. If Christ was a created being, not eternal, then He would have had to create <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Himself</i> – an impossibility.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">EPHESIANS 3:9</span> </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">states that<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <span style="color: #3d85c6;">God . . . created all things by Jesus Christ</span></b>:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The church at Laodicea could have every assurance that He Who is the Truth (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 14:6</span></b>), Who is the faithful and true witness – will tell them exactly who and what they are, with absolute accuracy:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 3:15-16</span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /><b><sup>15&nbsp;</sup></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. <sup><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">16&nbsp;</span></sup>So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth</span>. <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="http://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2017/08/beware-of-leaven.html">Leaven</a> (yeast)</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">&nbsp;is a symbol generally for sin in the Scripture (among other OT verses, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">LEV 6:17</span></b>), as well as a symbol for malice, wickedness (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 COR 5:8</span></b>), pride (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 COR 5:1-6</span></b>) and false doctrine (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 16:6</span></b>). <br />Leaven is inert in cold water, it can’t activate; it will <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">die </i>in hot water, but it will <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">thrive</i>in warm water! We can begin to understand why the LORD wants us passionate, zealous, <a href="http://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2017/09/are-you-on-fire-for-jesus.html">on FIRE</a> in our love and lives with Him! That will kill the spiritual leaven!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />Here the LORD is addressing the church – the spiritual condition of this fellowship was not FIERY hot in their love for the LORD, but neither were they cold towards Him. They were somewhere in the middle, a so-called <i>‘happy' medium</i>; their love for the LORD was only cool– they arrived at a compromise where they could have their Christianity and partake of the world too! Those at Laodicea were like useless, luke-warm water that quenches no one's thirst! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Compromise will kill a Christian’s witness, make their ministry ineffective, and make them an easy target for the enemy to take out! And cool off a love that should be white-hot for the LORD Jesus!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Let’s read on. . .<br /><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">REV 3:17</b><br /><b><sup>17&nbsp;</sup></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked</span>: <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">As mentioned before, just the opposite estimation that Smyrna had of themselves: Laodicea believed they were rich, when they were really poor. Smyrna saw themselves as poor, but the LORD knew that they were indeed rich! Paul addresses the spiritually rich heritage that we have in Christ:<br /><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">EPH 2:7 <br />That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus</b>.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /><br />PHIL 4:19 <br />But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus</b></span>.<br /><br />American Christianity – are we rich, or poor? Too many of our churches I fear, fall into the category of Laodicea rather than Smyrna. . . <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 3:18&nbsp;</span></span></sup></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see</span>. <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">They must "buy" from Jesus these things (but not with money; but a prayer of faith, trusting in the grace of God; <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">PSALM 7:1; 18:2; ISAIAH 55:1</span></b>): <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">pure gold</b> (compare <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 PET 1:7</span></b>): purity acquired by fiery trials and the Spirit of God that refines us in them. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">White clothing</b>(compare <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 3:4-5</span></b>; also <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 6:11; 7:9, 13-14</span></b>): the righteousness of the saints, granted by the grace of God alone. And <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">eye salve</b> – spiritual blindness that only the LORD can cure! Just as He healed physical blindness (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 9:7</span>)</b>, He can and of course does heal spiritual blindness (<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">ACTS 26:18</b>; <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">EPH 1:17-19; PSALM 19:8</b></span>) and restore spiritual passion (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">PSALM 51:12; JER 3:22; MICAH 7:18-19</span></b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Before this can happen, the church at Laodicea, like those at Ephesus, Pergamum and Sardis, must&nbsp;<i>be earnest, and repent </i>(<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 3:19</span></b>). To do this, they must change their perception of what is real, and above all their perception of themselves – once again, the&nbsp;<i>salve to put on your eyes, so you can see</i>&nbsp;(<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 3:18</span></b>; in those days there was an eye medicine known as "Phrygian powder" they would use for eye conditions); however they can only get <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>this </u></i><u>blessed eye salve</u> from the LORD, and not from any manufacture from man.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Seeing is <i>understanding</i>, and understanding comes from two sources – from the schools, education, philosophies and ideologies of fallen, sinful man (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">COL 2:8; 1 COR 2:3-7, 12-14</span></b>); or from the Word and Spirit of the Holy LORD God of all creation, full of grace and truth (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 1:14</span></b>): which source for understanding do you choose?</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 3:19</span></b><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><sup><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">19&nbsp;</span></sup>As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent</span>. <br /><br /></b>Even a letter such as this one to Laodicea, where the LORD talks about being nauseated by their behavior and conduct, is a Love Letter by the LORD – Who indeed loves them!&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br />If you find that your love for the LORD is cooling off, be assured that His love for you is constant, faithful, gracious and always, ALWAYS by His undeserved grace. He faithfully loved Laodicea enough to rebuke them, to discipline them. He admonishes them <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">to repent! And so too must our American church! Let us be broken over the state of this nation of ours! Let us mourn and fast and weep over the ineffectiveness of our comfortable and contemporary Christianity!<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">What sinner, lost in the cold darkness of this world could warm themselves in the smoldering glimmer of the church that can barely cast any light or heat, when she should be <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">a raging inferno of righteousness and indignation against the wickedness in the land?</i>May we fast and pray and intercede for this nation, as well as for the church in America [I call upon the saints to commit a time of fasting <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>every Friday</u></i></b> – one, two or three meals out of that day, and specifically pray for the church, and the lost souls of this nation, until we see a breakthrough in our community, our city, our State and nation]:<br /><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 PETER 4:17-18<br />17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?</span><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">I pray that you would watch this 12 minute video:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcUh2xLmJy4">A CALL TO ANGUISH – by David Wilkerson</a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">&nbsp;</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QcUh2xLmJy4/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QcUh2xLmJy4?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>~ <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>~ <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>~ <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">20&nbsp;</span></span></sup></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me</span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><br /><br /></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Here we see that the LORD is moving His attention from the congregation as a whole, to an appeal to the individual members of this fellowship: “. . . <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">if any man</i>. . .” Those that hear the voice of the LORD are His sheep (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 10:27</span></b>) and those who are not His sheep, don’t hear His voice (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 8:43-44</span></b>). <br /><br />Those sheep must return to their Shepherd when He goes out to seek after them (<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">MATT 18:12</b>)</span>. Communion with the LORD is the sweetest experience beyond compare, and once the wayward saint enters in to this depth of relationship, it becomes an <a href="http://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-passionate-thirst-for-god_10.html">ever-increasing desire and passion</a> to remain in fellowship with&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">and loving earnestly&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">the Eternal YHWH Who is our Beloved Savior&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">and faithfully loves us according to His grace&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">(</span><b style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">PSALM 27:4</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">)!&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>REV 3:21</b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">21&nbsp;</span></sup></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. <sup><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">22&nbsp;</span></sup>He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches</span></b></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Who is an overcomer?&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 JOHN 5:4 <br />For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">For more on this, please read the following article:&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /><b><a href="http://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2010/07/wanted-righteous-raiment-purified-gold.html">WANTED – RIGHTEOUS RAIMENT, PURIFIED GOLD,and SANCTIFIED SALVE</a></b></span></span></div>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-86756519671063505692018-01-21T13:25:00.000-08:002018-01-21T13:25:52.921-08:00JEWELS From The GOSPEL Of JOHN: ORIGINAL FAITH - JOHN 4:39-42<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eTCAjDPuzFs/WeNce1ztDhI/AAAAAAAAQZc/oDKwTgV-axERC-kzrKKvX7PqGs7zLv2QQCJoC/w800-h800/the-gospel-according-to-john.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="800" height="277" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eTCAjDPuzFs/WeNce1ztDhI/AAAAAAAAQZc/oDKwTgV-axERC-kzrKKvX7PqGs7zLv2QQCJoC/w800-h800/the-gospel-according-to-john.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. <br />I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. These articles will not run contiguously on this blog but peppered throughout and in the midst of other articles (though some might be posted consecutively). I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.</b></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>JOHN 4:39-42</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>40 So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.</b></span><br /><b style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">41 And many more believed because of his own word;</span></b><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world</b></span>.<br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We reached the end of the dialogue between the LORD and this Samaritan woman; at its conclusion, the LORD revealed to her that He is indeed the Messiah of Israel (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 4:25-26</span></b>). He had just told her to go and get her husband - that is to say, the man that she was living in sin with (who wasn't her husband), but instead of doing that, she leaves Him and His just-arrived disciples and goes into the city to declare her astounding discovery.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Not exactly who we might deem a worthy evangelist for the LORD: an adulteress. Yet such were some of us (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 COR 6:11</span></b>); and like the blind man, we attest to the truth that we once were blind, but now we see (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 9:25</span></b>). She testifies of that which she has seen, that which she has heard, that which she has touched (in regards to communicating with the LORD Jesus; <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 JOHN 1:1-2</span></b>), and like all witnesses, she has an audience, who must have found her testimony credible enough at least to warrant investigation.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The text indicates that there were some, who upon hearing her testimony, believed, but others came to see for themselves and were likewise persuaded because they then asked Him to stay with them.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our testimony can avail much in leading others to the LORD Jesus, just as the Holy Spirit testifies of Him and even the Father Who draws people to the LORD Jesus (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 6:44</span></b>; <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>15:26-27</b></span>). Whether by the word of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=word+testimony&amp;qs_version=KJV">the testimony of saints</a>, or the other Members of the Godhead - sinners are drawn to Jesus, but there comes a point where they must make a decision themselves.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Drawing does not equate saving, but in bringing in closer blind sinners that the Light of God may enable them to see Jesus . . .&nbsp;<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">HEB 2:9&nbsp;</span></b>. . .&nbsp;<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man</b></span>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We cannot '<i>piggy back</i>' our faith upon that of another - whether that other may be our missionary parents, or best friend by whose evangelism, thousands have come to faith, or a son who has become the Dean to a notable seminary - but express faith individually in Christ, as the apostle Paul states to the saints at Corinth:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 COR 1:24 <br />Not for that we have dominion over <i>your faith</i>, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand</span></b>.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There is <i>no branch</i> of the Vine that abides in <i>another branch</i>&nbsp;which abides in the Vine; each branch abides solely in the Vine (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 15:1-6</span></b>); likewise our faith in Christ is on an individual basis regarding salvation and all of the spiritual operations of justification (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROM 5:16</span></b>), sanctification (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 THESS 4:3</span></b>), mortification (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROM 8:13</span></b>), vivification (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROM 6:4</span></b>), and so on.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The faith of the Samaritans is specific - this is Jesus the Christ, not merely a Good Teacher (though He is; <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">EPH 4:21</span></b>), not merely a prophet (though He certainly is that! <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 13:57; 21:11</span></b>), not merely a way to God - but THE Way (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">PROV 8:20</span></b>) - and THE Truth (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">PROV 8:6-8</span></b>) and THE Life (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">PROV 8:35</span></b>), which the Messiah of Israel would bring to His people; not merely the most moral of men (even so, the Supreme example of such; <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 8:46</span></b>).&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The world may admit as much of Jesus regarding His being a good teacher, prophet, moral man, etc. but never the exclusive means of salvation (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 14:6; ACTS 4:12</span></b>), much less that <a href="http://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2011/12/jesus-is-god-word-incarnate-aka-messiah.html">He is God</a> manifest in the flesh, which the Messiah actually is, according to the abundant testimony in Scripture. Yet salvation hinges upon Who we perceive Jesus to be:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>MATTHEW 16:13-17</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?&nbsp;</b></span><b style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif;">14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.&nbsp;</b><b style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif;">15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?&nbsp;</b><b style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif;">16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.&nbsp;</b><b style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif;">.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif;">These rightly identified the Messiah, having heard His Word, and understood that He would be manifest to the world and expressed faith original to them all (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROM 10:9-10,17-18</span></b>).</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif;">May we all examine our hearts and lives to be sure that our faith in Christ is original to us (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 COR 13:5</span></b>), not based on the faith of another and that as a result of said faith, we demonstrate <i>the living nature</i> of it through the good fruit (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 7:17-18</span></b>) and good works (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">EPH 2:8-10;&nbsp;</span></b></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 TIM 5:25; TITUS 3:14</span></b>)&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif;">that come about by such genuine faith as spoken of in </span><b style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JAMES 2</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif;">.</span>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-75749895343931675282017-12-31T13:16:00.000-08:002018-01-04T17:23:42.862-08:00SEVEN ‘FROM The HEART of JESUS’ LOVE-LETTERS to the SEVEN CHURCHES of REVELATION - To The Church of Philadelphia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kOavLOxXD6g/hqdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="300" src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kOavLOxXD6g/hqdefault.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Church #6 PHILADELPHIA:<br /><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 3:7-13<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">7&nbsp;</span></sup></b><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">And to the angel of the <u>church in Philadelphia</u> write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; </span></b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk502240420"></a><b><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">8&nbsp;</span></sup></b><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door*, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">,<b>and hast not denied my name<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk502240834">.</a></b></span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <sup>9&nbsp;</sup>Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee</span></b></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">.<b> <sup>10&nbsp;</sup>Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. <sup>11&nbsp;</sup>Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. <sup>12&nbsp;</sup>Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God</b>,<b> and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. <sup>13&nbsp;</sup>He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches</b>.</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Philadelphia was a city of some importance founded in the second century B.C. by Attalus, king of Pergamum, in honor of his predecessor, Eumenes Philadelphus. The city was strategically situated in a fertile river valley on the main road from Sardis to Laodicea, directly east of Smyrna.&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The message to Philadelphia has captured the minds and hearts of Christians through the centuries because no other message (not even the one to Smyrna) is so rich in promises. The LORD's self-identification (v. 7) sets the stage for the first promise (v. 8), which is given unconditionally to the saints at the Philadelphia congregation. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Historically speaking Philadelphia is placed between the <b>Reformation Period</b> (represented by Sardis) and the <b>time of apostasy</b> that is occurring now and will culminate during the reign of anti-Christ – yet future. Philadelphia then would represent the time period of the mid 1600’s to the early 20<sup>th</sup> century – which was the time of Evangelicalism and the Great Missionary Movement.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Here is a chart that chronicles the various churches and their corresponding periods of church history.</span></span></div><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="background: white; border-collapse: collapse; border: none; margin-left: 40.5pt; mso-border-alt: outset black .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 3.75pt 3.75pt 3.75pt 3.75pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 834px;"> <tbody><tr style="height: 40.35pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;"> <td colspan="5" style="border: none; height: 40.35pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 625.5pt;" width="834"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><u>Seven Stages of Church History</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="border-top: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: inset black 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 1.0in;" valign="top" width="96"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Church<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: inset black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: inset black 1.0pt; border-top: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Church History Typified<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: inset black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: inset black 1.0pt; border-top: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Dates<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: inset black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: inset black 1.0pt; border-top: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 81.95pt;" valign="top" width="109"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Verses<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="222"><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: inset black 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 1.0in;" valign="top" width="96"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Ephesus<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: inset black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: inset black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The Apostolic Church<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: inset black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: inset black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">A.D. 30-100<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: inset black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: inset black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 81.95pt;" valign="top" width="109"><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV&nbsp; 2:1-7</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div></td> <td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="222"><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: inset black 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 1.0in;" valign="top" width="96"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Smyrna<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: inset black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: inset black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The Church of the Roman Persecution – the Suffering church<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: inset black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: inset black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">A.D. 100 - 313<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: inset black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: inset black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 81.95pt;" valign="top" width="109"><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 2:8-11</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div></td> <td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="222"><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: inset black 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 1.0in;" valign="top" width="96"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Pergamum<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: inset black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: inset black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The Church of the Age of Constantine – Compromised Church<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: inset black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: inset black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The Wilderness Period (Numbers)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: inset black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: inset black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 81.95pt;" valign="top" width="109"><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 2:12-17</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div></td> <td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="222"><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: inset black 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 1.0in;" valign="top" width="96"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Thyatira<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: inset black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: inset black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The Church of the Dark Ages – The Prostituted Church<br /> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: inset black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: inset black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">A.D. 600-1517<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="104876"></a><a href="https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/revelation/related-topics/representative-of-seven-stages-of-church-history.html#104876E" target="_blank"><sup>9</sup></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: inset black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: inset black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 81.95pt;" valign="top" width="109"><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 2:18-29</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div></td> <td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="222"><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: inset black 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 1.0in;" valign="top" width="96"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Sardis<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: inset black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: inset black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The Church of the Reformation – The Church of the Gospel Reaffirmed<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: inset black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: inset black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">A.D. 1517-1648<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: inset black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: inset black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 81.95pt;" valign="top" width="109"><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 3:1-6</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div></td> <td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="222"><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: inset black 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 1.0in;" valign="top" width="96"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Philadelphia<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: inset black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: inset black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The Church of the Great Missionary Movement – The Church Taken Out<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: inset black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: inset black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">A.D. 1648-1900<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: inset black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: inset black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 81.95pt;" valign="top" width="109"><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 3:7-13</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div></td> <td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="222"><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: inset black 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 1.0in;" valign="top" width="96"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Laodicea<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: inset black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: inset black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The Church of the Apostasy – the Lukewarm Church<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: inset black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: inset black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">A.D. 1900-present day<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: inset black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: inset black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 81.95pt;" valign="top" width="109"><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 3:14-22</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div></td> <td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="222"><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></td> </tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Like Eliakim of the Old Testament, gatekeeper of the king's palace in Jerusalem (read <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ISAIAH 22:20-22</span></b>; comp w/<b> <span style="color: #3d85c6;">ISAIAH 9:6-7</span></b>), the LORD holds&nbsp;<i>the key of David,</i>&nbsp;so that&nbsp;<i>what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open</i>&nbsp;(v. 7). Consequently, he places before the angel&nbsp;<i>an open door</i>&nbsp;(v. 8).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Preachers who claim this promise for their congregations tend to interpret the&nbsp;<i>open door</i>&nbsp;as a door to mission or evangelism, as in <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ACTS 14:27</span></b>.&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br />W. M. Ramsay (1904:391-400) called Philadelphia a "missionary city" because of its strategic location for the spread of <u>Greek culture eastward into Lydia and Phrygia</u>. Yet the open door in the message to Philadelphia means more than just evangelism; it is also&nbsp;<i>the door </i>into<i> heaven</i> (see <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 4:1</span></b>) or perhaps into the new Jerusalem (see v. 12) than a door for evangelism. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The open door is a kind of guarantee of salvation or eternal life, like the promises to the "overcomers" in all seven messages. Another way of saying it is that "I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth" (v. 10). Like the "two witnesses" in <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 11:12</span></b> or the child born of the woman in <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 12:5</span></b>, they will be "raptured," or <i>taken up to God in heaven</i>, before the wrath of God is poured out on the earth. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Much like Enoch, whom God translated (raptured in effect)&nbsp;<i>before</i> the Flood judgment <br />came and thus he is a type of the church that will be raptured out of this world before the 70<sup>th</sup> week of Daniel (Tribulation period of 7 yrs); and yet Noah and his sons, including Shem, who is the ancestor of Abraham, thus representing a type of Israel that is kept safe <i>through</i> the Flood and the time of Great Tribulation respectively.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The above commentary was based in part from the following <a href="https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/revelation/revelation-3/revelation-3-7.html">link</a>.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><u><b>ON DOORS</b>:</u> <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">doors are means of access, like a road or a path.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">~ There was only one way that led to the tree of life in the Garden of Eden: <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">GEN 3:22</span></b>, the LORD placed cherubim at the east side to guard it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">~ One sacrifice (access to God by means of worship) by Abel was accepted, the other by Cain was not: <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">HEB 11:4</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">~ There was only one door to the ark: <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">GEN 6:16</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">~ There was only one door that led into the tabernacle of Moses (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">EXOD 29</span></b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">~ Jesus is <u>the</u> only way, truth and life and He is <u>the</u>Door (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 10:1-9; 14:6</span></b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />Some comparisons between the <b>letter to Philadelphia</b> and <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 17</span></b> (turn in your Bibles to this chapter) – our LORD’s intercessory prayer to the Father on behalf of the church, the <i>true church</i>:<br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]--></span><u><span style="color: #4472c4;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">~</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">REV 3:8b . . . for thou hast a little strength, and <u>hast kept my word</u></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">.</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Compare with:</span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk502237583"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 17:6<br /><sup>6&nbsp;</sup>I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and <u>they have kept thy word</u></span>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">~</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">REV 3:9<br /><sup>9&nbsp;</sup>Behold, I will make them of <u>the synagogue of Satan</u>, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet</span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">.</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Compare this contrast with:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 17:15-16<br /><sup>15&nbsp;</sup>I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest <u>keep them from the evil</u>. <sup>16&nbsp;</sup>They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world</span>.<br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">~</span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 3:9b<br />. . . and to know that <u>I have loved thee</u></span>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Compare with:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 17:23, 26<br /><sup>23&nbsp;</sup>I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, <u>and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me</u>. <sup>26&nbsp;</sup>And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that <u>the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them</u>, and I in them</span>.<br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">~</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">REV 3:12b<br />. . . and I will <u>write upon him the name of my God</u></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">.</span><br /><br /></span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Compare with:<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">JOHN 17:26</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><sup>26&nbsp;</sup>And <u>I have declared unto them thy name</u>, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">VERSE BY VERSE EXPOSITION</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 3:7</span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /><b><sup>7&nbsp;</sup></b></span><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">And to the angel of the <u>church in Philadelphia</u> write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth</span>;<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The LORD is holy and true – absolute purity in goodness, righteousness, justice, grace and mercy; the LORD is also true – there is no darkness or deceit, but truthfulness in all things. This is someone entirely trustworthy and the only one worthy of our absolute and unwavering faith and worship.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">It is a comfort and reassurance that brings peace, to understand that the LORD holds the keys, He has the access to open doors for us to allow entrance into the presence of our Abba Father; no one can come to the Father except through Him! He gives us access to enter into His plan while living in this world, and He also closes doors that would lead us into unnecessary dangers and hardships.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br />How often I have prayed for the LORD to show me the way to go, and asked Him that if such a course was not in accordance with His will, that He would close the door! And lock it! And barricade it!! And when such doors are closed, I thank Him for His wisdom and protection! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Realize that what the LORD decides to open in your life, or to close, is in His power alone; and that no one can open or shut what God has determined for us (See <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 COR 16:9</span>)</b>. You are, where you are in life, by no accident. The LORD has opened a door, you have gone through it, and find yourself in situations and circumstances orchestrated by the living God since before the creation of the world!</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br />It is my personal belief that the key of David, while it opens the door in heaven to allow us access to be with our LORD when He takes us, His church, out of this world, it is that same key that He will use to recommence His dealings with the people of Israel, based on:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ACTS 15:14-16</span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /><b><sup>14&nbsp;</sup></b><b>Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to <u>take out of them a people for his name</u>. <sup>15&nbsp;</sup>And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, <sup>16&nbsp;</sup>After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up</b></span>:<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Consider the following, and note that word "until" in verse 25!</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>ROM 11:25-29</b></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, <u>until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in</u>.</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes.</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6; line-height: 107%;"></span></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The blindness of Israel will be lifted once "the fullness of the Gentiles [is completed]" - and what is the fullness of the Gentiles? It is when the LORD will take out from among the Gentiles a people for His Name - that will complete the church, the body of Christ, and raptures out of this fallen world!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 3:8</span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /><b><sup>8&nbsp;</sup></b><b>I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word</b>,</span><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> and hast not denied my name</span>.<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">We thank God for our “little strength” that is SO little, that the LORD must open doors for us! If we had great strength, it could mean trouble for us as we could go around opening all kinds of doors, behind which, there could be much danger!&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br />It is in our weakness, when we must depend on the LORD for help, that we are well able to accomplish much, simply because we aren’t doing it in our own strength, but the LORD’s! Just as the apostle Paul declared in <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 COR 12:7-10</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">When we get in to drive a car, we are steering a vehicle that weighs a few thousands of pounds, going at 50, 60 miles per hour! It’s a good thing that there is <i>automatic steering!</i> The power is not in the driver to turn that massive machine, but in the vehicle itself. You can turn it by using a single finger on the steering wheel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">It’s the same with the LORD – the power to live godly is not in ourselves where we must strain and struggle and muster up our own strength, but with a simple touch of His Almighty finger, enables us to live godly! By the Spirit of God He automatically steers us – as we yield.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Keeping the Word of God is key to operating in the strength of God. The word for “kept” and “keep” (used here in vs. 8 and vs. 10) in Greek is <i>tereo</i> – it means to watch over with special care, preserve; to guard under custody against attacks from outside; it is the same Greek word used in <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 17:10</span></b> regarding abiding in the love of God by keeping His Word.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The Word of the LORD, says the Psalmist has he kept, that he would not sin against the LORD (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">PSALM 119:11</span></b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">God is glorified in the little things, the simple things (even what the world would consider the foolish and weak things: <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 COR 1:25-27</span></b>): a ‘little strength’ or great weakness on our part means that He can display His Almighty power and receive the glory for it. A little faith, like a grain of mustard seed, in the Almighty God is able to ‘move mountains’ (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 17:20</span></b>).&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The simple staff of Moses God used to work great signs; the simple jawbone of a donkey in the hands of Samson, God used to defeat the Philistines. The little, few meager loaves of bread and fish, the LORD fed approximately 5,000 hungry men (not counting the women and children!). No matter how small, simple or insignificant the world thinks you are, or even how you may think of yourself, God can <i>and will</i> do mighty things through your life, if you trust Him!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The saints at Philadelphia did not “deny [His] Name” . . . The Name of the LORD is Jesus: <i>Y’shua</i> a contraction of <i>YHWH Shua</i>, or “<i>Our God is salvation</i>” – and we do not deny our salvation or the Gospel that gives us salvation and the LORD Who provides both. We hold fast to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, rejecting all false ways that lead to death (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">PSALM 119:104</span></b>)! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROMANS 1:16 <br />For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek</span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">.<br /><br />Not denying His Name also means not denying the nature and character of Christ, for Who He is, and how He is manifested in our lives before the world. It means dying to the old self so that the nature of Jesus may be seen in our lives!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 3:9<br /><sup>9&nbsp;</sup>Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee</span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">We saw the synagogue of Satan before in <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 2:9</span></b>, the paramount persecutors of the saints at Smyrna. These people of Satan, working in accord with the devil’s intention to attack the saints there, are now seen here; but in this case, they are seen in defeat, no longer oppressing God’s people, but being compelled to worship God’s people, what is known as “obeisance” or an expression of submission.<br /><br />We know that the spiritual authority of the church is granted by the LORD, and it is the authority of the LORD Himself that we possess, as we pray and seek God in accordance to His Holy will, according to His character, praying in Jesus “name”. Because of this, we understand that our victory over the enemy as an absolute certainty!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">GEN 3:15</span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">tells us the prophecy regarding the seed of the woman – that seed being Christ Who will “bruise” or literally “break” the head of the serpent. The apostle Paul states that the GOD of Peace will bruise Satan under the feet of the saints of Rome “shortly” (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROM 16:20</span></b>). <o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Whom the LORD knows, He loves, and He is not ashamed to call us His own (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 17:25-26; HEB 2:11-12</span></b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 3:10<br /><sup>10&nbsp;</sup>Because thou hast kept <u>the word of my patience</u>, I also will <u>keep</u> thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Keeping the Word of God will bring forth fruit if we will patiently wait for it (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">GAL 6:8-9</span></b>), we will see this happen in our lives:<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">LUKE 8:15<br /><sup>15&nbsp;</sup>But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and <u>bring forth fruit with patience</u></span>. <br /><br /></b>And those who bear fruit prove themselves to be children of God, not children of this world<b> (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 13:24-30</span>) </b>and these<b> </b>are those who have kept His Word and will themselves patiently wait for His return, according to His Word, and be kept from “the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world – to test those who dwell on the Earth” – this can be nothing other than that time of trial, which the LORD said:<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 24:21-22<br /><sup>21&nbsp;</sup>For then shall be great tribulation, such as <u>was not since <i>the beginning of the world</i> to this time, no, nor ever shall be*</u>. <sup>22&nbsp;</sup>And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened</span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">. </span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">*</span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"> - even the Holocaust??<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The test will be: Who will people pledge their allegiance to? 1) The Beast, the son of perdition and accept his mark of 666 and as a result be eternally condemned without remedy; or (2) to the LORD Jesus Christ and face martyrdom (beheaded) and depart this wicked world for the glory of heaven?<br /><br />This time of temptation will cover the entire globe, and test <u>everyone</u> who “dwells on the Earth”. If we are kept from that time, then we will not be dwelling on the Earth – but will exit this fallen world (like Enoch after God took him) and go through the open door that the LORD has opened for us and straight into His Almighty arms of love!<b><br /><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 3:11<br /><sup>11&nbsp;</sup>Behold, <u>I come quickly</u>: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Skeptics have referred to this verse and ridiculed Christians, because, they say, “QUICKLY?! It’s been <i><u>two thousand years</u></i> since this was written, and He says – quickly?? Silliness!” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The Greek word used here for quickly is <i>tachu</i> – and it can mean “swiftly, suddenly, to catch by surprise”. It isn’t referring to a short length of time, but the manner of one’s approach – which in this case is as fast and as sudden as a bolt of lightning!<br /><br /><b style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 24:27 </b><br /><b style="color: #3d85c6;">For </b>[just] <b style="color: #3d85c6;">as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; <u>so shall also</u> the coming of the Son of man be</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Holding fast is to say, remain faithful and I believe it is in the nature of every born again believer, who has the Spirit of God indwelling them, that they will ultimately remain faithful in their keeping of the Gospel of salvation, and the gift of grace granted to them, being eternal life – there may be some fumbling and stumbling along the way, some pit falls and set-backs – but I believe that the LORD will complete (when we see Him face to Face; <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 JOHN 3:2</span></b>), that which He begins in each and everyone of our lives (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">PHIL 1:6</span></b>). <br /><br />Now faithfulness regarding rewards – and a crown is a symbol for reward – there are those who will lack or lose reward, but still be saved (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 COR 3:13,15</span></b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 PETER 1:3-8<br /><sup>3&nbsp;</sup>According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: <sup>4&nbsp;</sup>Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. <br /><sup>5&nbsp;</sup>And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge</span></b></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">; <sup>6&nbsp;</sup>And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; <sup>7&nbsp;</sup>And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. <sup>8&nbsp;</sup>For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that <u>ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful</u>in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ</span>.<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The ones at risk of having their crowns ‘stolen’ would be those who are not yielding to the sanctifying of the LORD and growing in holiness and good works/fruit that He alone can produce in us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 3:12a<br /><sup>12&nbsp;</sup>Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out</span>: <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Pillars are established on a foundation, and hold up the roof of a structure; they are symbolic of testimony, of upright conduct and a witness whose foundation is upon the truth and hold above the Name of the LORD and His glory, which is a spiritual shelter for us to find refuge in! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">And those who are overcomers will stand fast on the truth, no matter how much pressure is applied by the world to cave in and submit to ungodliness and falsehoods; the saints will uphold the Name of the LORD Jesus and not deny His Name! These are not pillars in some common building, but in the very temple of God. Any temple – pagan or not – is a place of worship, but we are placed in the temple of the true and living God, where we will worship Him in Spirit and Truth – what a joyous honor and holy privilege that we should even be invited, let alone remain there in the presence of the LORD – “and . . . go no more out” from that place of worship! "So shall we <u>ever be with</u> the LORD" (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 THESS 4:17</span></b>)!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 3:12b-13<br />. . . and I will write upon him <u>the name of my God</u>, and <u>the name of the city of my God</u>, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and <u>I will write upon him my new name</u>. <sup>13&nbsp;</sup>He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Here again, we see “name” mentioned – and when we read that the LORD will write upon the overcomer the “name of My God” I see that as the LORD completing what He started in us, fulfilling all the new nature we have in Christ. <br />In addition to the name of God, there is the name of the city of God – which denotes citizenship: that we belong to <a href="http://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2017/12/the-seven-mountains-in-kingdom-of-god.html"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>a Kingdom that cannot be moved</b></span></a>:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">HEBREWS 12:28<br /><sup>28&nbsp;</sup>Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear</span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">In the certain hope and expectation that we will indeed inherit all things, with our LORD Jesus Christ (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROM 8:17</span></b>), and that as pilgrims traveling through this world of sin, we are looking for a better country and the holy city that the LORD has prepared for us:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">HEBREWS 11:13-16<br /><sup>13&nbsp;</sup>These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. <sup>14&nbsp;</sup>For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. <sup>15&nbsp;</sup>And truly, <u>if they had been mindful</u> of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. <sup>16&nbsp;</sup>But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city</span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Let us conduct ourselves accordingly – as proper citizens of the Kingdom of God and the Holy City<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 PETER 2:10-12<br /><sup>10&nbsp;</sup>Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. <sup>11&nbsp;</sup>Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; <sup>12&nbsp;</sup>Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by <u>your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation</u></span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">.<br /><br />For more on this, see this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T72KOOQNrA">video </a>by <i>Prophecy Update!</i><br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Next time, we will look at the last of these seven churches, Laodicea – the lukewarm church. And then a final study to summarize and a brief overview of the rapture of the church.</span><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-11226518928894453882017-12-12T09:00:00.000-08:002017-12-12T17:12:50.096-08:00SEVEN ‘FROM The HEART of JESUS’ LOVE-LETTERS to the SEVEN CHURCHES of REVELATION - To The Church of Sardis<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://assets.podomatic.net/ts/64/a0/68/toddbuono/1400x1400_11038917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://assets.podomatic.net/ts/64/a0/68/toddbuono/1400x1400_11038917.jpg" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Church #5 SARDIS:<br /><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 3:1-6</span></span></u></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /><b>And unto the angel of the <u>church in Sardis</u> write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. <sup>2&nbsp;</sup>Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. <sup>3&nbsp;</sup>Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. <sup>4&nbsp;</sup>Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. <sup>5&nbsp;</sup>He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. <sup>6&nbsp;</sup>He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches</b></span>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">“<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/Rev/Message-Sardis">Sardis</a> was situated almost directly south of Thyatira, in the direction of Smyrna and the sea. Its greatest days were behind it, but this once proud capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia (later the western capital of the Persian Empire) was still, under Roman rule, an important center of the woolen industry. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">“Abundant archaeological remains include a temple to Artemis, a huge gymnasium and the largest synagogue yet found in the ancient world, suggesting a Jewish community numbering in the thousands (<i>Finegan</i>1981:177-78) . . . The problem of the congregation in John's time was not with the Jews, nor with the Roman Empire, nor with false prophecy, but solely with itself.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The LORD tells the congregation at the church of Sardis that He holds the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars. We know what the stars are because they’ve already been identified: they are the leaders, or the pastors (“angels”) of these churches – and the LORD holds them in His hand. Then what is this, about “the seven Spirits of God”?? This is also mentioned in <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 4:5</span></b> and<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> <b>5:6</b></span>. There is just <i>One Spirit of God, right? </i>The Third Person of the Trinity – the Father, Son and Holy Spirit – so what is this about “the seven Spirits of God”?<br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">In <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 14:16</span></b>, the LORD Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit:<br /><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you&nbsp;<u>another</u>&nbsp;Comforter, that he may abide with you forever</span>;<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The word for Comforter in the Greek is: <i>parakletos</i> – or “comforter, advocate, counselor, helper, assistant, granter of strength. The Holy Spirit brings comforts (<i>com</i> – with; <i>fortis</i> – strength: “[bring] strength”) to the saints as “another Comforter” One Who is just like Jesus Who is our Comforter (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 14:18</span></b>), just as God the Father of all comfort (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 COR 1:3</span></b>).<br /><br /><b>In <span style="color: #3d85c6;">ISAIAH 61:1-2a<br />The Spirit of the Lord&nbsp;God&nbsp;is upon me; because the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; <sup>2&nbsp;</sup>To proclaim the acceptable year of the&nbsp;Lord</span> . . .</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Also consider <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ISAIAH 11:1-3a<br />And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: <sup>2&nbsp;</sup>And the spirit of the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the&nbsp;Lord; <sup>3&nbsp;</sup>And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the&nbsp;Lord</span></b> . . .<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">And finally – <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 3:34-35<br /><sup>34&nbsp;</sup>For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. <sup>35&nbsp;</sup>The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand</span>.<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">We know that the number “seven” biblically speaking, means “completeness” and so, we understand that the Father has granted the complete power of the Spirit of God to the Son, and the Spirit of God is of course complete in Himself. And all the virtues, powers, unction, vitality, gifts and fruit of the Spirit are granted to us through Christ!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">In every church we have seen so far, the LORD introduces Himself to the saints there with a title., a characteristic or an attribute that the church needs. Here He speaks of the very Spirit of God, He who holds the pastors in His hand.<br /><br />How can a church ever be in need of the Spirit of God?? Let’s look at the second half of verse 1:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“. . . <span style="color: #3d85c6;">I know thy works, that thou hast a <u>name</u> that thou livest, and art dead</span>.” </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The Greek word for “name” is <i>onoma</i>, from which we get the term nomenclature – it may refer to classification, or <i>denomination</i>interestingly enough. The LORD tells them that they have a name – or an “identity” or “reputation” that they live but are dead.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 3:2-3</span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /><b><sup>2&nbsp;</sup></b></span><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Be watchful, and <u>strengthen</u> the things which <u>remain</u>, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect</span> </b>[complete]<b> <span style="color: #3d85c6;">before God. <sup>3&nbsp;</sup><u>Remember</u>therefore how thou hast <u>received </u>and heard, and hold fast, and <u>repent</u></span></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">All is not hopeless however – the LORD tells them to be watchful and strengthen the things “<span style="color: #3d85c6;">which remain, that are ready to die</span> . . .” Which means there are things yet remaining that aren’t dead, yet! There are times in our lives as Christians when our appetite for the Word of God seems to die off, when we no longer have a passion for prayer, no conviction of sin, nor care for the spiritually lost. The fire of the Holy Spirit seems only to smolder in our hearts – and yet there is still hope!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ISAIAH 42:3 <br />A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth</span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Reeds grow along the edge of ponds and lakes; shepherds in biblical days would carve them into flutes and play music while watching over their sheep. Over time, they would become brittle and break – but no problem! They would just throw the useless flute away because reeds were plentiful! They would just grab another and carve themselves another flute!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">But the LORD is gentle, loving, caring and is not willing to toss us aside if we become broken. He doesn’t throw us away as a worthless thing: we are bought with His precious blood, and we are made worthy and of worth, <i>because of the price paid for us!</i> He mends us, and continues to blow His Holy Spirit through us, and creates in us such spiritual music that the world could never make. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Flax is something used for wicks in lamps; they are tightly twined thin strips of cloth soaked in olive oil, and there would be times when the cloth used was soiled enough that it would sputter and smoke. Most would just throw that flax away and get a new one. Yet if you subject it to enough heat and keep the oil flowing, the dirt or grime would burn away, while the cloth, soaked in oil would be preserved.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">If the fire of God’s Spirit doesn’t seem as hot as it once was, if the Light shining from the life of a Christian appears to dim, the LORD is well able to take the “smoking flax” that is us, and with a fresh flow of the Spirit and fiery but faithful trials, He is well able to fan the floundering flame into an inspiring inferno!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">As in verse 3 of our text: all we need to do is be attentive – “<i>watch</i>”! and by the grace of God, “<i>strengthen</i>” those things that remain, but are not died off yet in us. We must “<i>remember</i>” just as Sardis is here commanded, as was Ephesus commanded to “<i>remember from where</i>[they] <i>have fallen</i>”.&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Only Sardis is to remember what they “<i>had received and heard – to hold fast and repeat and repent</i>”. Of the seven churches listed in these two chapters, Ephesus, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis and Laodicea are all called to repent of something; only Smyrna and Philadelphia are exempt.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">In our chronology of church history that we have been comparing these seven churches with, we last looked at Thyatira, which represented that time in which the <a href="http://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2012/07/roman-catholic-church-its-dogmas-and.html">Roman Catholic church</a> dominated the world. Then early in the 16<sup>th</sup> century – 1517 AD to be exact, all the way to the middle of the 17<sup>th</sup> century (up to 1648 AD) the Protestant Reformation was born, lived and thrived. Tracing the historical view of this movement over the course of its more than 500 year lifespan, we find a remarkable parallel to Sardis.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The <a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/Protestant-Reformation.html">Protestant Reformation</a> started off very, very well: godly men like Theodore Beza, Martin Bucer, Heinrich Bullinger, Thomas Cranmer, William Farel, John Calvin, John Knox, Martin Luther, William Tyndale, Huldrych Zwingli and countless others, hazarded their very lives in order to get the Word of God published in the native languages of their countries and preached the Gospel fearlessly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Revival swept over Europe as people, for the first time in over 1000 years were able to read the Bible in their own languages! They were being liberated from the tyranny and oppression of the Roman Catholic church. This is not to say that there weren't Bibles available, but these were few in number, and in the hands of smaller church fellowships.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">What may be under appreciated however, was that there were many people who migrated to the Protestant churches, not out of conviction or conversion but merely to escape the clutches of the Roman Catholic church. Within three generations the church became distinct in ten primary denominations: Anabaptists, Baptists, Reformed Churches, Calvinists, Arminianists, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Anglicans, Lutherans and Puritans. Today there are literally hundreds of denominations, some comprising of millions of members, others only several hundred.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">If one examines the spiritual condition of the major Protestant denominations today and their view of Scripture as a whole and specific doctrines of the Bible, many, if not most are in wretched condition. The Deity of Christ, the virgin birth; the inspiration, inerrancy and infallibility of the Scriptures, the necessity of being born again, the literal Second Coming as well as the exclusive claims of Christ are all questioned at best or outright rejected at worst.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Protestant ministers now include women or even lesbians; homosexuality is becoming more and more acceptable; abortion is seen by some as a sacrament; New Age beliefs and practices began to invade the denominations back in the mid 70’s. Today, many denominational churches are overrun by New Age, New Thought and Emergent philosophies. Universalist and Unitarian churches are experiencing a steady growth as Bible based denominational churches are declining.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 3:3b</span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /><b>If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee</b></span>.<br /><br />The LORD comes to those as a thief in the night to those who are not watching, to the spiritually deadened, to the sleeping and unprepared; we see in <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 THESSALONIANS</span></b> a contrast between those who are watching, waiting and praying for the LORD’s Return, and those who are not:<br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 THESS 5:1-9<br />But of the times and the seasons, brethren, <u>ye</u> have no need that I write unto <u>you</u>. <sup>2&nbsp;</sup>For <u>yourselves</u> know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. <sup>3&nbsp;</sup>For when <u>they</u> shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon <u>them</u>, as travail upon a woman with child; and <u>they</u> shall not escape. <sup>4&nbsp;</sup>But <u>ye</u>, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake <u>you</u> as a thief. <sup>5&nbsp;</sup><u>Ye</u>are all the children of light, and the children of the day: <u>we</u> are not of the night, nor of darkness. <sup>6&nbsp;</sup>Therefore let <u>us</u> not sleep, as do <u>others</u>; but let <u>us watch and be sober</u>. <sup>7&nbsp;</sup>For <u>they</u>that sleep sleep in the night; and <u>they</u> that be drunken are drunken in the night. <sup>8&nbsp;</sup>But let <u>us</u>, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. <sup>9&nbsp;</sup>For God hath not appointed <u>us</u> to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ</span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Today the Protestant Churches in the majority say, “My LORD delays His coming.” – what does the LORD call such a servant as that? “. . . that evil servant . . .” (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 24:48</span></b>). Many of the Protestant denominations, like certain Baptists and Presbyterians are amillennial – that is, they teach that Christ will not reign physically on the Earth in a kingdom established in the nation of Israel! Of these, many are Preterists – which state that prophecy is completely fulfilled already, and we are not living in the Last Days.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 3:4</span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /><b><sup>4&nbsp;</sup></b><b>Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy</b></span>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The Greek word used here for “few” is <i>oligos</i>, and it means “small, brief, few, of short duration in time, of slight degree, of little amount”. That is the percentage of the true believers in Sardis. So what of all the others, the majority there? What was their spiritual condition like?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Here is where the condition of <a href="https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/1934/03/formalisms-ever-menacing-peril">Formalism</a> comes in:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The <i>outward form</i>of Christianity is retained with all of its doctrines and beliefs intact, but with no inner effectiveness on the heart or in one’s life. The Word of God does not work effectively in them, not being “mixed with faith” (<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>1 THESS 2:13</b>; <b>HEB 4:1-3</b></span>) This is vain religion (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JAMES 1:26</span></b>), a form of godliness but without the power of the Holy Spirit governing the life (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 TIM 3:5</span></b>). It's outward show without inward sanctification (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ISAIAH 1:13; 29:13; MATT 15:8; 23:23</span></b>)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">And while this seems to be the majority of people’s condition there in Sardis, there are a few that have not defiled their garments – but on the contrary, these will walk in white with the LORD, not as those who <i>have</i> defiled their garments. Garments in Scripture have to do with one’s life, one’s witness, one’s spiritual condition:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">In <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ZECHARIAH</span></b> the high priest Joshua was dressed in filthy garments – but the LORD “caused [his] iniquity to pass away” and was given a change of raiment (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ZECH 3:1-7</span></b>). ISAIAH speaks of the garments of salvation which are owned by the LORD (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ISAIAH 59:17</span></b>) but are granted by grace to His own (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ISAIAH 61:10</span></b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Certainly, among the few, the minority of those within the Reformation, which among its millions of adherents over the last 500 years, still accounts for a great multitude of true believers, we have the likes of Martin Luther, William Tyndale and others previously mentioned, and later, John and Charles Wesley, George Whitfield, Jonathan Edwards, and later still Charles Spurgeon, Dwight L. Moody, Lewis S. Chafer, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">However, just as there are those who trust their salvation to their adherence to a particular denomination, rather than an allegiance of faith to the LORD Jesus Christ, that touches and transforms the life as well as the heart – we must also be careful of the same thing. No one is saved because they are a member of ELWC, nor as a member of Calvary Chapel or John MacArthur’s Grace Community Church.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">We are only worthy – just as those few in Sardis were worthy, because of faith in Christ and Christ alone, which was the herald of the Protestant Reformation by the way: <i>sola fide, sola gratia, sola Christos</i> – or “By faith alone, through grace alone in Christ alone”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 3:5-6</span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /><b><sup>5&nbsp;</sup></b><b>He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. <sup>6&nbsp;</sup>He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches</b></span>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Those who belong to Christ, they have the promise from the LORD Himself, that He will not blot their name out of the book of Life – which apparently is a roster of citizens that belong to the Kingdom of God; only those genuinely saved in Christ, who are born again will see and enter into the Kingdom of God (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 3:3,5</span></b>); those who are not born again, are not members of the Kingdom of God, do not have their names written in the book of Life and will, instead of being granted admittance to that Kingdom, they will be dispatched to damnation in the lake of fire (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 20:15</span></b>).</span><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-83662978101085176392017-11-22T16:27:00.005-08:002017-11-22T16:27:56.734-08:00JEWELS From The GOSPEL Of JOHN: MEAT and GREET - JOHN 4:32-38<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MeMRi8IOOk4/Wd32ki6RCcI/AAAAAAAAPtw/bgxFaYiKvPQo07Mm0WTmX0Mq0h44PwRPACJoC/w800-h800/the-gospel-according-to-john.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="800" height="277" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MeMRi8IOOk4/Wd32ki6RCcI/AAAAAAAAPtw/bgxFaYiKvPQo07Mm0WTmX0Mq0h44PwRPACJoC/w800-h800/the-gospel-according-to-john.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b>The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. These articles will not run contiguously on this blog but peppered throughout and in the midst of other articles (though some might be posted consecutively). I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>JOHN 4:32-38</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.&nbsp;</b></span><b style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot;, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?&nbsp;</span></b><b style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot;, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.&nbsp;</span></b><b style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot;, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.&nbsp;</span></b><b style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot;, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.&nbsp; </span></b><b style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot;, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.&nbsp;</span></b><b style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot;, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot;, sans-serif;">.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">It was stated earlier in this chapter that the LORD "must needs" go through Samaria (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 4:4</span></b>) - and we know why: he had an appointment with a certain Samaritan woman, and later in this chapter, others from the city of Sychar, to deliver the Gospel and present Himself as the Messiah. After his conversation with the woman, and her discovery of Who the LORD truly is, she leaves hurriedly to find others and tell them the good news.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">In the meanwhile, His disciples return from town with the food they were asked to get, and they beseech the LORD to eat - and this is where we pick it up.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">He tells them that He has sustenance that they are not aware of, and they are perplexed, wondering where He got His meal from. But then the LORD clarifies His statement and explains that His "meat" is to do the will of the Father, and to finish it.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">We all need to eat, since the day we were born; sustenance sustains us and keeps us alive. Without it, we would starve - and desperate people resorted to desperate measures when faced with starvation, and famine.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Israel knew such peril in her history, in the same region we find ourselves here: in Samaria.<br /></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><b>2 KINGS 6:24-26</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><b>24 And it came to pass after this, that Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his host, and went up, and besieged Samaria.</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><b>25 And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver.</b></span><br /><b><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"></span></b><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">26 And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">Much dispute surrounds the correct identification of "<i>dove's dung</i>" but whatever it was (chick pea-like vegetable, or small wild onions), it wasn't considered a typical staple in good times, but an item of last resort when no other food was available. Certainly a donkey's skull (used in a soup perhaps?) sounds entirely unappetizing!</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">When there is lack of God's Word in our lives, the spiritual knowledge of the most High that feeds our souls, is there such desperation to find it, as we would when food scarcity threatens our physical lives?</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">We know what Job had to say about food he required in order to survive:</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOB 23:12 <br />Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">&nbsp;That which sustained our LORD, His "meat" was to do the will of the Father. This brought nourishment to His Soul, encouragement to His Mind and resilience to His Spirit. To fulfill the purpose of the Father is the ultimate satisfaction for our LORD.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">And for us as well.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">Even people in the world find contentment when they can find some purpose in life, something to live for, a reason to get up in the morning as a motivating factor that keeps them going.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">How much more so, should the saint of God find contentment in the purposes, the eternal purposes that He has prepared for us!</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><b>EPHESIANS 1:4-13</b></span><br /><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot;, sans-serif;">5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,</span></span></b><br /><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot;, sans-serif;">6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot;, sans-serif;">7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot;, sans-serif;">8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot;, sans-serif;">9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot;, sans-serif;">10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot;, sans-serif;">11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot;, sans-serif;">12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.</span></span></b><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot;, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise</span></b>,</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">We are accepted, chosen, predestinated and adopted and sealed by God as His beloved, since before the foundation&nbsp;of the world! Think about that! For the purpose of becoming holy and have a love relationship with our Creator! And it was (and is!) His good pleasure to do so! All made possible by the atoning sacrifice of Christ, in accordance with His grace.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">He has blessed us with wisdom, prudence, understanding of His will according to His purposes and counsel - and as such become a praise for His glory's sake, based on faith ("trust") in Him!</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">Finding God's purpose for your life, and fulfilling that purpose is truly "meat" for us, and drink as well - all the spiritual sustenance we could possibly need - and then some!</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">There are the purposes of propagating the Gospel that we ourselves have received, delivering it to the lost, so that they might also understand these mysteries. This is a glorious work that we enter into, harvesting where others before have planted; laboring fervently in as much as we are "fed" such vital nourishment of knowing the LORD, understanding His Word and His will, and walking in obedience to such.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">Just as Jacob of the Old Testament and much later, John the Baptist planted, these disciples are reaping; spiritual co-laborers in God's Kingdom. Likewise just as Paul and Apollos labored together, it was God that gave the increase (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 COR 3:6-8</span></b>). And the labors will receive their wages, that is, rewards granted at the <i>bema-seat of Christ</i> on that blessed Day (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 COR 5:9-11</span></b>).</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">May we seek to know the will of our Father, and pursue Him with greater tenacity than we would pursue our refrigerator when we are hungry! Perhaps you haven't had much of a spiritual appetite for the Word of God lately?</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">When we fast from food for more than three or four days, our appetites diminish because our stomachs 'shut down' and remains so for over a month if we continue to fast. Once past that time, the body, having not received any nourishment will begin to cannibalize itself - and if that continues, our bodies will waste away until we starve to death.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">But once we decide to break a fast of any considerable length of time (say a week or more), we can't resume our regular diet with the same volume as before. That could actually kill you! One needs to slowly digest simple carbs and liquids, gradually building up to more solid foods and proteins.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">It's the same thing spiritually - you will need to force yourself to eat: begin small, but be intent on gradually increasing. And you will find your spiritual appetite increasing, and become robust and strong once again, being sustained by knowing and obeying the will of the Father according to His Word.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">You will know the blessing of engaging in the work that God has purposed for you, and to one day finish that work, just as the LORD did, and Paul:&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot;, sans-serif;">See <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 17</span></b>; also:</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot;, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><b>2 TIM 4:6-8</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><b>6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><b>7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:</b></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-77066306200194913112017-11-07T13:57:00.000-08:002017-11-08T09:24:36.838-08:00FROM CONSPIRACY TO CHRIST: The Testimony of Andrew Spod Godkin<div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/5f/aa/8b/5faa8b717c43787db384704f9637f36a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="374" data-original-width="540" height="276" src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/5f/aa/8b/5faa8b717c43787db384704f9637f36a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; line-height: 106%;">The following is a testimony from a dear brother "from across the pond" in England. I met him online with <i>Facebook</i>, and after getting to know each other a bit, and learning how he came to know the LORD, I was intrigued and wanted to know more about this.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; line-height: 106%;">When he gave me a bit more detail, I asked if he would be willing to share his testimony with us all, and he agreed. So, the following is the testimony of Andrew Spod Godkin: I pray that it ministers and reaches people, particularly those who are on the same road that he was on - and how it all led him from conspiracy to Christ</span><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">My childhood was very much a normal one, I would say; no abuse at all, nothing out of the ordinary, and my parents are still together after 51 years, so no suffering a divorced and broken family.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br />I think the way I was brought up gave me respect for others; I am polite to everyone, and so for that I am thankful. We didn't have a lot of money and I could not have everything I wanted, so I had to learn to do without the things that some other kids had. This also taught me to look after my things ("look after your things and they will look after you").<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">We’re not a very open and close family with regards to talking about things and getting deep into any topics. I think it's quite hard to show our affection for one another (something that I wish was different but that's just the way it is) but besides all this I don't doubt their love&nbsp;for me, it's just different from how I see some others around me growing up.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">I don't think my parents are believer's but if they were and did believe my efforts in trying to help them see,&nbsp;they would most likely keep it to themselves (Although I did find out that they both went to Bible classes as youth). I have tried and still do try to talk about these things to them, but only ever get little response back. <br />They can't argue what I try to show them, but at the same time, they don't really want to discuss it any further.&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">&nbsp;I will continue to pray for them.</span></span><br /><div><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Growing up into my teens I very much floated through school and pretty much accepted what life told me was true, never for a minute thinking anybody would lie to us in the way that they do. So, as I got older as a young adult my thoughts were: If evolution is true, then of course aliens must be out there, etc. so I had a big interest in everything to do with life elsewhere.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br />I guess sometimes I thought that I must not be from here, because the way that people treat one another and crap on each other, I just did not understand why and how they could do it so freely without having any conscience about their actions.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">It wasn't until my life progressed and bad things started to happen to me (and others) which I felt were unfair; in relationships for example, and being ripped off by someone for being so gullible of your hard-earned cash. Realising that things even your parents told you about the world wasn't&nbsp;true, I became more and more untrusting of the world and its people. Perhaps it’s when you learn these things it starts to make you think to yourself, <i>Everyone else is like that so I may as well be like that too</i>.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">No matter what people did or how they made me feel,&nbsp;even though I thought of bad things and how to retaliate, I still was determined not to let these bad experiences of being cheated on (in just about every relationship) make me be the same way and then I turn pass that on to someone else who didn't deserve it.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Then I understood that the world which I lived in, I was never going to be successful; I didn't have what it took to be ruthless; and it seemed that only the crooked succeeded mainly (but also some few hard-working people too).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">I think each negative experience that happened to me in life, set me up to search for truth and again, it made me very untrusting of the world and its people.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">My brother (I have two) was massively into 'house' music or electronic dance music,&nbsp;which I myself got into (because of him) and it became my focus,&nbsp;hobby and passion – my source of happiness and place to go to feel good. However it also at the same time led me down a path of women, drink, drugs many parties and late nights, expanding my mind and thoughts on life's bigger questions. Some of which I thought woke me up in some small way, but this does not truly happen, I would say until <i>you know the truth of Jesus</i>.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Yeah, you may have looked a little further into things than the average person but at the end of the day, <i>without Jesus you are still very much lost and nothing can truly make sense</i>.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">So, through all this I guess I thought to myself that I was an 'OK guy' by the world's standards but in reality, I am no better than the rest and have my own secrets and dark thoughts just like anyone else when they think they are alone.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">I had no background whatsoever in any kind of religion or Christianity and neither did the people around me (that I knew of). At no point in my life did I ever think I would be on this path as a believer in the one and only, true and living God.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">During my youthful clubbing days I was always around the party scene (complete with drugs) which is how I met my long term girlfriend who I was in a relationship with for 13 years; we had a house and two dogs. I thought I would eventually marry her, have children and grow old together.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; line-height: 106%;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">This relationship was full of partying, drugs and alcohol, and although I never lost control, it just seemed what most youth do around here nowadays. So, nights going on very late and right into the next day – even going out and doing it all again the night after – (in my early days), burning the candle at both ends so to speak.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">I had a passion for all things involving music especially electronic; I was a DJ, loved clubbing and would even go as far as saying that music was my God. I was always around the party scene on a weekend (complete with drugs) and met my girlfriend during one of these times.&nbsp;</span><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Although I always thought deep down this would eventually calm down in my life, it didn’t. During this time, I had also been a smoker of marijuana (for the past 18 years of my life); it was something I very much enjoyed. <o:p></o:p></span><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">This lifestyle hadn’t affected me work wise. I had always gone to work and paid my way. By the world’s standards I didn’t think I was a bad guy in general; I was quite pleasant and got on with most folk easy enough.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Getting back to my girlfriend: eventually I had some quite rough patches in my relationship and found out I was being cheated on around the time when we were supposed to move into a lovely country cottage. So, in the end we split up and went our separate ways quite quickly; that was back in November of 2013. <o:p></o:p></span><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">This was quite a gutting, embarrassing experience for me which brought me down to earth with a crash. I was greatly upset at this time; I felt some anger as well and a greater loss of trust in people. <o:p></o:p></span><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">I moved in with an old friend I used to hang around with before meeting my girlfriend as I couldn’t afford to live by myself. This friend happened to be the place in my life where I first began my marijuana smoking journey; it just so happened that he was also growing it himself. So then, this looked like what my life was going to shape up to be because I enjoyed smoking it and was quite content.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">I thought to myself, <i>This is who I am and if I meet another lady, she will just have to accept this</i>. However, it was always a drain on my money – I had even tried to stop a few times but never seemed able to get away from it (besides the never-ending joints I smoked, I also used an E-cigarette for about 4 years previous to moving in with my friend). <o:p></o:p></span><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">So, anyway during the next two-year period at my friend’s house (after my split from my girlfriend), I began searching for some kind of truth in the world:&nbsp; looking into all kinds of so called conspiracies. <br />Anything from the twin towers, to UFOs, ancient civilisations and then I eventually came across things like the new world order, the Freemasons and Illuminati, etc. I began to see that there was something seriously wrong with our world, but still nothing close to the truth about Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Then I remember one particular conspiracy which I actually think is leading others down the same path I went down.&nbsp; It's the one about fluoride being put in our water to perhaps dumb us down as a society. So, I looked further into this, which led me to hearing about the fluoride causing some kind calcification of the <i>pineal gland</i> (otherwise known as <i>the third eye</i>) crystallising it and stopping it from opening. <o:p></o:p></span><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">I know now that this was leading me into New Age things and secret knowledge etc. but at the time I was wondering, ‘<i>What does this third eye do?</i>’ I was very intrigued. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">This again led into something else: I began looking into ancient civilisations in general and specifically into Egyptian and Sumerian; as well as this, the possibility of a spirituality of some sort. It seemed there was a whole lot more going on in all of this; the rabbit hole deepened even more, but still with no answers. <o:p></o:p></span><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">I came across a documentary called ‘<i>DMT the spirit molecule</i>’ and I was fascinated by it. In it, people were talking about this apparently ancient drug which is a component also found in <i>Ayahuasca</i>(which is a drink Shamans brewed in jungles in places like Peru); they were having strange but interesting spiritual psychedelic journeys that sometimes brought them (in their minds) into very similar experiences and meetings with strange entities. <o:p></o:p></span><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">People appeared to be having what almost seemed like religious type experiences/visions or somehow connecting to higher being –&nbsp; perhaps even God? I got curious, and for me this was more than just taking another drug like the ones I did in my previous years (ecstasy and marijuana mainly, closely followed by cocaine and amphetamines; also, ketamine a few times too). I became convinced it was a gateway to the spirit realm (something I still believe today*).<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><u>[*Note to reader by James</u>: The word for "witchcraft" in the Greek as used in <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">GAL 5:20</span></b> is <i>pharmekia</i>, which is where we get the word pharmaceuticals - or drugs. Drugs have long been used by various cultures to perceive the spiritual realm, but that is the realm of darkness.]</span><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">I researched <i>DMT</i> thoroughly; something I had not really done with previous drugs and was convinced it wasn’t like an addictive drug and is only something to try every once in a while, with no danger of getting hooked on it. I also researched other people on <i>youtube videos</i>, documentaries, etc.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">To cut an already long story short, I managed to get my hands on some of this drug. It was the <i>scariest and strangest</i> thing I have ever experienced, hands down. I tried a few times but couldn't seem to get into it deep enough and reach the point that these other people reached in their experiences. Yet what I did experience convinced me of the spirit world. <o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14pt;">I will try to explain parts of some trips I had but without the whole story as I don’t really want to glorify this substance as it isn’t the main focus of this testimony.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14pt;">The first time I tried it, it seemed to have an almost ‘Egyptian type’ of feeling to it, seeing some kind of strange stone wheel that was turning around; it had writing along the edges that was either hieroglyphs of some kind or alien writing.&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14pt;">The wheel stopped, and it felt like </span><i style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 14pt;">time had stopped</i><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14pt;"> which is hard to explain; but it felt like I was </span><i style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 14pt;">outside of time</i><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14pt;">.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14pt;">On another occasion, upon smoking some more of this drug, I couldn’t tell if I was still breathing or not upon taking. I can remember thinking ‘Am I still breathing?” And it was then I heard what sounded like a female voice in my ear saying in a ghostly voice, “<i>breeeeeeeathe</i>”.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Usually I closed my eyes when I sat and experienced these trips in my room; but one time it felt like <i>my head was being scanned somehow</i> and I didn’t want to open them – but eventually I did: the whole room looked distorted and vibrating almost horror-style like. <o:p></o:p></span><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">The only time I saw something close to an entity was when a trip was wearing off and it appeared as though light began breaking through my wall; a face appeared which looked like a lion. It was just looking at me. I’m thankful that I didn’t interact with it but that was in fact, the only time I saw something that seemed like a being of some sort.</span><br /><br /> <span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">Anyway, after a few of these experiences and being convinced of a spirit realm I began to think that if this is real, then there must be a dark side to all this. Because my experiences so far, felt very scary, I thought to myself whilst researching a darker side of spirituality,that demons must be real too if I believed in the Spirit world. I didn't enjoy watching/researching this stuff, I just wanted to know what we could possibly be dealing with and what I could have been getting myself into (unknowingly). This also led me into more research into even more satanic things and twisted people like occultist Aleister Crowley who seems to have greatly influenced many high profile people (celebrities) that were or still are in the public eye today with his writings and practises. The Beatles, Ozzie Osborn, David Bowie, Led zeppelin and Jay Z just to name a few I found.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">I decided one day, before I thought about trying DMT again, that I would pray as I had no one else to ask about what I was doing or even to talk to that would understand, so I just prayed saying ‘Lord’ in quite a humble way, to ask if what I was experimenting with and searching for was the right path in looking for answers, some kind of truth to the world; I’m not sure what I was searching for but now I believe it was God.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; line-height: 106%;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">The next day, I felt I got an answer in the form of a video popping up in my feed.&nbsp; It was someone I previously was into, but had decided he was part of this secret world system too, what with all his connections. In the video he was only championing this DMT stuff (I think this would only make sense to me as an answer to my prayer, but it worked). I decided then and there to stop what I was embarking on and began searching even more into these trip experiences of people who were experimenting with this drug.&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">People under the influence of this, eventually came to the conclusion that “we are all one and all God” (which is <i><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/pantheism.html">pantheism</a></i>). This raised <i>some big red flags</i> and I thought to myself ‘this stinks of <i>new world order</i> deception’!<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Some conspiracy videos I came across also had Bible scriptures in them and one video was even exposing churches that were involved in these conspiracies. Very shortly after, I can't really explain why, but it seemed like a few connections from all the things I had ever watched and researched all joined together and started making more sense in my head as to why the world seemed so corrupt. <o:p></o:p></span><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Then one night, in August of 2015, while alone i</span><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14pt;">n my room I had a moment of realization:&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14pt;">‘<i>Ahhh it's all been a trick, God is real, Jesus must be real</i>’ I then thought how am I going to explain this to people (laughing to myself); that I really believed it all. Thinking, </span><i style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 14pt;">People will think I’m a nutter, but it was all true!</i><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14pt;">&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br />In that same moment I then realised that God had seen everything I had ever done, every little bit of it and I then regretted a few things I hadn't previously regretted; some actions in the past and ones I still did. <o:p></o:p></span><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Things like smoking cannabis, taking drugs, looking at porn, masturbation and the sexually immoral things I’d done; all my secrets where I thought I was alone. Also, my relationship I spoke of:&nbsp; My ex-girlfriend at one time (three years into our relationship) was pregnant and decided she didn't want to keep it.&nbsp; At the time I decided to stand by whatever decision she made (which was abortion). I totally thought it was the right thing to do given our situation money wise and because she was wanting to further her career at the time. So, I stood by her.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">This now, I also realised was wrong to do, even though I don't think I really had much of a part in deciding overall – still felt bad about it and wish I’d tried to persuade her to keep it.&nbsp;</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">Shortly after thinking Jesus is real, the Bible is real, we have been lied to in a big way, I thought, How can I talk to God stoned and learn the Bible?&nbsp;</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; line-height: 106%;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">So, I decided to quit smoking cannabis – and haven't looked back or even felt like going back to it at all (even though previously I had pretty much committed to smoking it the rest of my life)!&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">It felt easy to quit too, not like before, so I believe my new faith in Jesus freed me from this, as it did with masturbation, porn, fornication, taking God’s name in vain and swearing too (used to swear every other word) . . . I don’t drink at all now either (that was never a big problem), but I don’t feel the need to get in that kind of state of being anymore. <o:p></o:p></span><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Looking back, I remember that my ex-girlfriend was a nightmare when drunk which put me off it. Now I could say I would never do those things again, never feel tempted around those things again, never even want those of things in my life anymore. <o:p></o:p></span><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">I generally stay away from my old life and friends although I still speak to them; I just don’t go drinking with them or do anything I used to do with them. My close friends and family all know my belief now and even people at work<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">I have moved back to my parents to get my finances in order. I have decided to have a go at growing vegetables and took on an allotment growing food as a side hobby to me learning all things biblical in my spare time after work. <o:p></o:p></span><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">I don't really feel the need to do anything but learn the Bible nowadays and don’t feel I am missing out on old things. I just want to learn. <o:p></o:p></span><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Just before I moved back home, a girl showed interest in me; I explained the path I was on but hadn't learnt a lot from the Bible at that point. Still didn't know much about fornication and godly relationships. So, one thing led to another, we slept together, and I thought things might be going well. <o:p></o:p></span><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">I really wish I hadn’t done this, but it’s a mistake I’ve made on my journey which I wanted to share, as I don’t want people to think it has been straight forward; and even though my life has improved and my person, I learnt more about fornication and felt mortified, upset with myself for doing this so shortly after believing in Christ. <br />I was so upset that I prayed saying I was sorry and that I would end the relationship but also asked God to help me end it.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">I had decided I was going to tell her that the path I'm on isn't going to work with her, but as it happened she seemed to just go her own way; it just fizzled out as fast as it started.&nbsp;</span><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">I was so happy when this happened; I decided not to fornicate again, and stay single for the rest of my life unless of course, I could possibly meet a likeminded Christian girl (Bible believing woman) willing to wait to get married and do things properly (even though I believed it made my chances real slim, but who knows what God has in store?).&nbsp;</span><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">If it's right it will happen; if not I'm not going to worry too much about it. I just don't want to displease the Lord. <o:p></o:p></span><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">I realise I am a sinner before God's eyes and that we all are because of the original sin of Adam. No amount of good deeds could ever make me righteous before God (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ISAIAH 64:6</span></b>) There is nothing I could ever do to merit or earn myself a place in God’s kingdom, it is a gift (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">EPHESIANS 2:8-9</span></b>) in which we are justified freely by his grace (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROMANS 3:24-26</span></b>) and we are saved unto good works (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">EPHESIANS 2:10</span></b>) not for our salvation but as a show of our faith and because it’s our reasonable service (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROMANS 12:1</span></b>).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br />You must be born again <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 3:3</span></b>, which is what I firmly believe happened to me to change my life in this experience that I am sharing with you. <o:p></o:p></span><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Jesus is the only way, the only truth to this place we live in and the only way to eternal life with God (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 14:6</span></b>). I am going to cling tightly to it and place all my faith in Him. I hope He finishes the good work he has started in me. All glory be to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of Israel, to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Part of my conversion is a little bit vague. I think because for me, I did not have much Bible background knowledge from my life or childhood. The parts of the Bible I really knew from school: that Jesus (</span><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 18.6667px;">I did not know who he actually was)&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14pt;">was crucified, but I never really knew exactly why. I always thought that it was just unfair he was killed in such a way.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 18.6667px;">So, I guess the single moment upon my conversion/realisation of the truth, although I'm not quite sure how I came to understand this but must have come from the snippets of scripture I was seeing within videos online exposing the truth. I came to the realisation that He wasn't killed against His will, that He wasn't just some wise man or guru, with good teachings, I believed that <a href="http://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2011/12/jesus-is-god-word-incarnate-aka-messiah.html">Jesus is God</a> in the flesh and that he&nbsp; willingly laid down his life for all of us; that He died on the cross to pay for the sins of the world (of course rising on the third day beating death) and also that this was all supposed to happen. It's been planned all along to set us free (all that believe the truth) from sin and from this current world set up and the course that we are/were&nbsp; all heading on (hell).&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Something which I still can't fully explain or&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 18.6667px;">quite get my head around,&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14pt;">is the Godhead; and&nbsp; although scriptures show Jesus described in very much the same way as the Father, yet at the same time his role is also very much doing the will of the Father as the Son of God. However it works, the scriptures say that the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost are One (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 JOHN 5:7</span></b>).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">As a new Christian I used to watch some channels that made me question whether my journey in Jesus was real. I'm better with that now through searching the scriptures and prayer and research. I believe God somehow led me here (He must have, I would not be on this path at all). Some days are good, and I feel calm and at peace then others I worry about the world and people going the wrong way, deceptions and more coming, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">So here I am currently, I work and mostly spend my days studying the Bible, listening to sermons and learning about the satanic world we live in. My walk hasn’t been easy so far, and the whole area of Christianity is another mine field of its own, regarding part truths and deceptions. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">And all God’s people said, Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><b><u>An AFTERWORD by ANDREW</u></b>:<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Before eventually being trodden down in life, this belief in Jesus and 'Christianity' was something I felt sure I would never pursue and was just like <i>any other religion</i>. I thought people who followed these things were just deceived themselves, but not me. Of course, the other religions of the world are (unfortunately) deceived – although there are nice people within all those areas.</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;">What we must understand is that even Satan quoted scripture. As a new Christian we need to be aware of this fact; when people everywhere are all throwing scriptures at you, but they don't agree <i>with each other on anything</i>, that tells you something right there. <i><a href="http://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2009/09/remedial-course-on-conspiracies-101.html">Deception and conspiracy are everywhere</a>&nbsp;</i>and there is an answer to these things:</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><i>t</i></span><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><i>he Bible is the best way to learn and know the truth</i>; and once you are armed a little better, then I think you can venture into teachings and know better if what they are saying is right or wrong.&nbsp;</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-22055066589500820412017-10-29T19:40:00.000-07:002017-10-29T19:46:15.245-07:00SEVEN ‘FROM The HEART of JESUS’ LOVE-LETTERS to the SEVEN CHURCHES of REVELATION - To The Church of Thyatira<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://yt3.ggpht.com/-SFH1TW___pE/AAAAAAAAAAI/AAAAAAAAAAA/5T1LOqHppf8/s900-c-k-no-mo-rj-c0xffffff/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://yt3.ggpht.com/-SFH1TW___pE/AAAAAAAAAAI/AAAAAAAAAAA/5T1LOqHppf8/s900-c-k-no-mo-rj-c0xffffff/photo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Church #4 THYATIRA:</span></u></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>REV 2:18-29</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; 19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. 20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. 22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. 24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. 25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. 26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star. 29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.</span></b></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/Rev/Message-Thyatira">Thyatira</a> was a smaller city located further inland in the fertile Lycus River valley. Little is known of its history beyond the fact that it once belonged to the kingdom of Pergamum, and few archaeological remains have been found.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yet the message to Thyatira is the longest of the seven messages: elven verses (as opposed to the letter to Smyrna which was only four verses). According to <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ACTS 16:14</span></b>, Thyatira was the home of Lydia, a "dealer in purple cloth" and a "worshiper of God" whom Paul encountered at Philippi in Macedonia. The reference suggests the city's significance relating to the dye industry, and perhaps also the relative freedom and mobility of at least some of its women in pursuing careers.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The situation at Thyatira was similar to that at Pergamum, except that the false teaching (and consequently the calling-out) centers on a single individual. This is unique in the seven messages. Antipas, the only other named individual (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 2:13</span></b>), was singled out for praise and commendation rather than scorn or condemnation.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That woman Jezebel, by contrast (v. 20), is most likely not her real name but a nickname of sorts, after Israel's idolatrous queen (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 KINGS 16:31; 21:25</span></b>) whose terrible fate at the hands of Jehu was prophesied by Elijah (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 KINGS 21:23; 2 KINGS 9:30-37</span></b>).</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The power and influence of this Jezebel, a self-styled prophetess at Thyatira, must be viewed in light of three facts: (1) women prophesied freely in early Christianity (see, for example, <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ACTS 2:17; 21:9; 1 COR 11:5</span></b>); (2) women often played major roles as priestesses in contemporary Roman and Eastern cults in Asia Minor; (3) the Christian Montanist movement in the same region a century later assigned conspicuous leadership roles to two prophetesses--Priscilla and Maximilla (Eusebius, <i>Ecclesiastical History</i> 5.14-19).</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the procession of these seven churches representing seven periods of time in church history, Thyatira represents the period starting after Constantine’s edit of Milan that brought freedom to Christian expression of faith and alleviated their persecution, through the rise in power of the Roman Catholic church to the time of the Protestant Reformation.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As the primary representation for Thyatira is the <a href="http://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2012/07/roman-catholic-church-its-dogmas-and.html">Roman Catholic church</a>, with its 1000 year history, the name of this city is quite interesting: It means ‘<i>sacrifice</i>’ and one may immediately think of the<i> Eucharist</i>, in which, according to Roman Catholic dogma – is the perpetual, never-ending sacrifice of Christ, who is crucified afresh on the altar of every Mass, conducted in every one of their churches, the world over.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>&nbsp;&nbsp;</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Vs. 18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Once again as we have seen previously with the other three churches, Thyatira is addressed by the LORD with certain attributes that are relevant to them specifically: He is the Son of God – as opposed to the one revered in that church by Jezebel and her followers – the ‘mother of God’ or the “queen of heaven” (<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>JER 7:18; 44:17-19, 25</b></span>), a title originally attributed to Semiramis, the consort of Nimrod, King of Babylon* – and such titles were transferred by the Roman Catholic church to the person of Mary, the Mother of God. Semiramis supposedly gave birth to Tammuz her son immaculately – a virgin birth!**</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>*KNOW YOUR ENEMY – Part Five: Semiramis</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WIOC44sDSXs/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WIOC44sDSXs?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>**KNOW YOUR ENEMY – Part Nine: The Birth of Tammuz and Polytheism</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cqH4t8mOuzg/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cqH4t8mOuzg?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The LORD’s eyes are a flame of fire – (</span><b style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">DEUT 4:24; HEB 12:29</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">) and fire is that which tests and purifies – imperishable materials like gold, silver and crystal are refined by fire, whereas perishable materials like wood are destroyed by fire.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Spiritually speaking it is the same – that which is born of God is imperishable because we have eternal life, and the fire of God refines and strengthens us: we all know what a ‘trial by fire’ is!&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Yet for the saint, this is a blessing! For those not born of God’s Spirit, the fire of God represents judgment and destruction. So, for those of Thyatira – there should’ve been cause for careful consideration of their lives, their conduct and beliefs which offended the LORD. He says that His feet are like fine brass – and again, just as fire is a symbol for judgment upon the unrepentant sinner, so too is brass (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ISAIAH 63:2-4</span></b> refers to the LORD coming in judgment, and will trod the winepress (a representation of wicked)).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">God’s judgment of our sin fell upon His Son Christ Jesus: and in the Old Testament, there was prophetic significance to the various sacrifices: particularly relevant in regard to judgment was the Bronze (or brass) altar where burnt offerings were made for the sins of the people, so that the people were not charged with punishment, but rather the sacrifice that took their place under God’s judgment (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">EXOD 40:10, 29</span></b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">We often think of the Roman Catholic church as it is during our own period, and that institution is full of false doctrine and corruption. What we may not appreciate is that it didn’t start out this way – back when it was just the church at Rome, there was a lot to be commended. And even once the corruption started to take hold, there was still a lot of good works, charity, service and faith, patience – and more works; and that the condition started to improve over time (This was different from Ephesus, which started out well, but began to degrade).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Just like Ephesus, who in the midst of all the commendation, suddenly heard “nevertheless” – Thyatira is here told, “notwithstanding” . . . <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i>20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not</i>.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ephesus had a single, vitally important oversight to repent of: they left their first (best) love; however, Thyatira has “a few things” that the LORD is against and He specifically addresses the “angell” – the pastor – on these issues:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">1) <u>He (the pastor) allows the false prophetess to teach</u>. It is doubtful that this woman’s name was really Jezebel – could you imagine a Jewish mother naming her child Adolf? However, the name is apt, because just as Jezebel, wife of Ahab, brought in over 800 prophets of Baal and Astarte (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 KINGS 18:19</span></b>) to sway Israel away from YHWH and to the pagan gods of her own nation, so this woman was bringing in “damnable heresies” (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 PET 2:1</span></b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The power and influence of this&nbsp;<i>Jezebel,</i>&nbsp;a self-styled&nbsp;<i>prophetess</i>&nbsp;at Thyatira, must be viewed in light of three facts: (1) women prophesied freely in early Christianity (see, for example, <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ACTS 2:17; 21:9; 1 COR 11:5</span></b>); (2) women often played major roles as priestesses in contemporary Roman and Eastern cults in Asia Minor; (3) the Christian Montanist movement in the same region a century later assigned conspicuous leadership roles to two prophetesses--Priscilla and Maximilla (Eusebius,&nbsp;<i>Ecclesiastical History</i>&nbsp;5.14-19).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">2) <u>She is permitted to seduce the LORD’s servants to commit fornication</u>. As mentioned previously in the study of Pergamos, temple prostitution in honor of the pagan gods was a common practice, but in this instance, such fornication could have, and very well may have spiritual implications. “Whoredoms” in Scripture is often in reference to the people of God being unfaithful to the LORD, and instead, serving other gods (or sometimes both) – and this is seen as the spiritual form of fornication by the LORD (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JER 2:20; 3:1-8; EZEK 16:15-28</span></b>). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The risen Christ Jesus makes no distinction between prophets who condone idolatry and immorality and those who practice such things. He compares Jezebel to a prostitute, like the Mother of Harlots (false religions) "Babylon" in <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 17-18</span></b>. She has had time to repent, <i>but has not done so</i>.&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Her punishment is to be put to bed (v. 22), "a bed of sickness in contrast with the bed of adultery" (Beckwith 1922:467). Her followers at Thyatira (<i>those who commit adultery with her</i>) still have time to repent, but are similarly in danger of intense, though unspecified, sufferings<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">3) <u>She persuades them to eat things sacrificed to idols</u>. We don’t know specifically what sort of idols these were that the people were persuaded to sacrifice to; ultimately, it’s not important to know this. What <i><u>is</u> vitally important</i> is the fact that they are sacrificing to any idol whatsoever, and not devoting their entire heart to the LORD instead.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Obviously, this is a blatant violation of the commandment of the LORD:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>EXOD 20:1-5</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">And God spake all these words, saying, 2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lordthy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me</span></b>;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">As Thyatira is representative of that period of time of the Roman Catholic church, these rebukes by the LORD are notably fitting of that institution: they have a different Jesus than the biblical Jesus, and He is worshiped by them – along with the ‘Mother of God’, Mary – who in some parishes, she is exalted to the unbiblical and lofty position of <u><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/Mary-redemptrix-mediatrix.html">co-redemptrix</a></u>!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The Roman Catholic church is vigorously promoting the <u><a href="http://www.eternal-productions.org/messages_video.html">visionsof ‘Mary’</a></u> that are appearing all over the world with ever increasing frequency; certainly, a manifestation of deception brought about by demonic influences.</span>&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">There is also the veneration of the host – <i>the Eucharist</i>, which is supposed to be the very body and very blood of Christ, transformed by the priest by the act of <u><a href="https://carm.org/transubstantiation">transubstantiation</a></u> from bread and wine. This would certainly qualify as “eating things sacrificed to idols”!&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Of course anything in our lives that we consider more important than our LORD Jesus: our spouse or family, our career, or money, hobbies, etc. – these are all considered <a href="http://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2011/09/josiah-mandate.html">idols that must be struck down and removed</a> from us, we who are the temple of the Holy Spirit.&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i>21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. 22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds</i>.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Here we see the grace of God in evidence! Even though Jezebel and her followers were committing grievous sin by seducing God’s people, judgment did not come upon them instantly, but the LORD demonstrated longsuffering by providing her an opportunity to repent.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The fact that she – and her followers apparently – did not, resulted in the LORD’s intention to cast her “and them that commit adultery with her” into a time of chastening? Of corrective action? No: “into great tribulation” it says (“except they repent” – so there is still the loophole of grace offered even then!). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The church of Smyrna was already in tribulation (and poverty and suffering; see <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 2:9-10</span></b>) that would last for a time period, after which they would be relieved, and they would continue. However, this time in which their tribulation would persist would affect “some” (<b>vs. 10</b>) to the degree of martyrdom – this is not the same as “great tribulation”. The LORD spoke of this time period:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>MATT 24:15-22</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: 17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house: 18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened</span></b>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">This time of great tribulation would occur once the “abomination of desolation” occurs “in the holy place” which is to say, the image of the Beast (anti-Christ) is set up in the Holy of holies in the <u><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITFceblN_vI">near-future rebuilt Temple of the Jews in Jerusalem</a></u> (See: <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 THESS 2:3-4; REV13:14-15</span></b>).</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">So what Smyrna was suffering and what Thyatira was promised <u>are two different forms of tribulation</u>. Smyrna suffered tribulation at the hands of their persecutors; the great tribulation is a judgment upon those, who like Jezebel, refuse to repent and receive genuine salvation in Christ, and instead partake of their own religion(s).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Thyatira (those guilty of the sin the LORD mentions) was the only church that was promised “great tribulation” just as the church of Philadelphia was promised that the LORD would “<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>. . . keep them from the hour of temptation that will come upon all the world to test them which dwell on the Earth</b></span>” (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 3:10</span></b>) – Why? Because the church at Philadelphia “kept the Word of [the LORD’s] patience” unlike those in Thyatira that were engaged in false worship and idolatry.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i>23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works</i>.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I will simply say that the LORD knows the works in our lives, what we do day by day, and He will render to each and every one of us the fruit of those labors: from the works of Thyatira, these resulted in death of “her children”. That is the spiritual fate of those who hate the doctrine of God’s truth; having itching ears is spiritually fatal (</span><b style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 TIM 4:3</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i>24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. 25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Just as there are the deep things of God (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 COR 2:10</span></b>), there are also the ‘deep things of Satan (“the depths of Satan”)’ which I believe will manifest during the time of the Great Tribulation when the One World Religion rules, the <i>Mystery Babylon</i> (see chapters in <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 17; 18</span></b>).&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">I believe that the Roman Catholic church will (and to a large degree, already is) spearheading a one world religion. For those who reject this Jezebel doctrine, the LORD admonishes them to hold fast. This holds true for Thyatira, and it will hold fast for those who will have to endure that time of Great Tribulation, under the reign of anti-Christ, who refuse the mark of the Beast (666): to endure to the end (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 10:22; 24:13</span></b>). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">That the LORD could speak to Thyatira and encourage them to hold on until He comes, speaks of the doctrine of imminence, that is, that we should expect the LORD’s return at any time, at any moment. He could have returned then during that time period; but we continue to watch and pray because we don’t know the time of His return – we know the seasons, but not the exact day or hour (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MARK 13:31-33; 1 THESS 5:1-2</span></b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i>And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star. 29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Again, the church of Thyatira is representative of church history when the Roman Catholic church dominated the world, for well over 1000 years. It was the ambition of popes to rule the world as ‘king of kings and lord of lords’ (titles exclusive to the LORD Jesus Christ Himself (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 19:16</span></b>). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">But what Thyatira is promised – as are all the saints who are overcomers and keep the LORD’s works which He has prepared for us (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">EPH 2:10</span></b>) is that <i><u>we</u></i><u> shall</u> rule the nations with a rod of iron – which speaks of our co-regency, our rule along with Christ Who Himself will rule with this same rod of iron, as granted by the Father (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">PSALM 2:9; REV 12:5; 19:15</span></b>). The LORD grants to the overcomes, “the morning star” which is He Himself (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 22:16</span></b>). The morning star is the brightest object in the sky just before dawn, when the night is at its darkest.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The world will certainly be at its darkest during the reign of the Beast, when Satan is worshiped openly by the vast majority of this world. But the hope is, that the morning star will appear, and that just before the rising of the SON (of GOD)! He Who will come to reign upon the throne of David as the Messiah of Israel and Savior of the world (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">LUKE 1:31-33</span></b>)!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Here ends the longest segment of this series; next we will look at the church at Sardis.</span><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-58241214454363565362017-10-20T09:52:00.001-07:002017-10-20T10:04:37.532-07:00SEVEN ‘FROM The HEART of JESUS’ LOVE-LETTERS to the SEVEN CHURCHES of REVELATION - To The Church of Pergamos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://yt3.ggpht.com/-SFH1TW___pE/AAAAAAAAAAI/AAAAAAAAAAA/5T1LOqHppf8/s900-c-k-no-mo-rj-c0xffffff/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://yt3.ggpht.com/-SFH1TW___pE/AAAAAAAAAAI/AAAAAAAAAAA/5T1LOqHppf8/s900-c-k-no-mo-rj-c0xffffff/photo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Church #3 PERGAMOS:</span></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><u>REV 2:12-17</u></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="line-height: 107%;"></span></u></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; 13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. 14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. 15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate. 16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it</span></b>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The name Pergamos comes from a Greek word which was synonymous with “tower” or “citadel” that was associated with the goddess Roma, or in other cultures as Cybele, whose worshipers were engaged in religious fertility rites that resulted in women getting pregnant due to temple prostitution, and the infants born as a result were offered up as burnt sacrifices to their gods.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Although the majority of Pergamos’ monuments now sit in Berlin’s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pergamon_Museum">Pergamon Museum</a>, enough remains of the Acropolis for the visitor to sense the former greatness of the city that once rivaled Alexandria, Ephesus and Antioch in culture and commerce (it was almost as wealthy as Smyrna), and medicine.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The healing temple of the god, Aesculapius* was located here at Pergamos, where it was believed that serpents held the power to heal;&nbsp; [and then there is] “Satan’s Throne,” as described by the apostle John of Patmos (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 2:12-13</span></b>), which some scholars interpret as referring to the Great Altar of Pergamon, one of the most magnificent surviving structures from the Greco-Roman world. Other temples in the Acropolis are those dedicated to Zeus as well as Athena.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">[*- The symbol of Aesculapius was adopted by American Medical Officials and Institutions, </span><br /><div style="text-align: right;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">the caduceus (See image at this <a href="https://misfitsandheroes.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/caduceus-medical-symbol.png?w=640">link</a>) – a rod with two snakes intertwined&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif;">however this is not the ancient symbol of healing, but the representation of commerce and trade! The actual symbol of the healing arts of Aesculapius is a rod with a single snake (see picture at this<a href="https://www.florenceinferno.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Staff-of-Asclepius-by-Tmelu.png"> link</a>)]&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Given the fact that the city represented the highest and most esteemed example of Hellenistic Greek culture, traditions and religion in both its [beliefs] and its very architecture, early Christians viewed it as a bastion of all that was anathema.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When Cyrus conquered Babylon (539 BC), they founded a new center at Pergamos and that king became the high priest of the pagan system: Pontifex Maximus (Pember).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Both Hislop and Pember trace the subsequent transfer of the cult from Pergamos to Rome, with the appointment of successive Caesars as high priest and ultimately, to that office in 378 A.D. of Damasus, the Bishop of Rome, with the complete and permanent absorption of “Babylonianism” into the Roman Church (re: Thyatira).</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Once again, we read how that the LORD identifies Himself with attributes and virtues that the church He is addressing, needs:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges</span></span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Pergamos is known as the compromised church – from Constantine to the time of pre-eminence of the Roman Catholic church; it was a church of ‘mixed multitude’ or literally ‘<i>per</i>’ “mixed or corrupted” and ‘<i>gamy</i>’ marriage: “a mixed marriage” (between the church and the world,&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">much like the children of Israel back in the days of the Exodus); they were a mix of believers and non-believers.&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/m5ps7ZXC5mc/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/m5ps7ZXC5mc?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><br />The LORD is the One with “the sharp sword with two edges” – Who is able to divide (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">HEB 4:12-13</span></b>) the true believers from the false.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">13&nbsp;</span></span></sup></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">As we know, the word for martyr in the Greek is <i>martos</i>, and originally it meant someone who was a witness, a person who would testify in court. Yet it came to mean a person who would witness of the truth that is Jesus Christ and the Gospel and was willing, and often was, put to death for it. Antipas was such a witness, and the LORD testifies of him as well as those like him in the church of Pergamos “[His] faithful witness”; the LORD Himself is that faithful witness of the Father, as described in <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 1:5</span></b>as well.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The church of <u>Ephesus</u> was representative of the apostolic age of the church; the church of <u>Smyrna</u> represented that time in which the early church had known its most intense period of persecution, where Roman authorities did their best to annihilate them because they refused to worship Caesar, who was heralded as a god (a type of anti-Christ by the way)! That was perceived as not just unpatriotic but treasonous; but the more these Christians were persecuted, the more the church flourished. <br /><br />The church of <u>Pergamos</u> represents that time-period of history that was a post-persecution time; the emperor Galerius ordered a halt to the persecution of the church, and authorized an Edict of Toleration in 311 AD. Two years later, the next emperor, Constantine issued another edict, the Edict of Milan:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The Edict of Milan gave Christianity a legal status, but did not make Christianity the official religion of the Roman empire; this took place under Emperor&nbsp;Theodosius I&nbsp;in 380 AD.&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">(See the full article on Wikipedia </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edict_of_Milan" style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">here</a><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">.)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Constantine, it is said, became a Christian, but this is doubtful – In 312 A.D., Constantine set out to defeat the forces of Maxentius, his rival, for supreme power in the empire. Constantine’s father, it is said, had prospered when he had prayed to the God of the Christians, and so he in his desperation and near-defeat by Maxentius, resorted to the same action. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The next day he said he saw a shining cross in the sky with an inscription above it: <i>in</i> <i>hoc signo vinces. </i>“In this sign you shalt conquer.” He defeated Maxentius and immediately declared his ‘conversion to Christianity’. He assumed headship of the church, repealed the persecution edicts of Diocletian, and advanced Christians to high office in the state.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">His primary goal was to <u>unite the empire by way of compromise</u>, and bring an end of the multitude of factions between all the various pagan belief systems as well as the Christian church that was growing at an alarming rate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Heathenism was then Christianized; pagan temples became Christian Churches; heathen festivals were converted into Christian holidays; pagan gods became venerable saints who had passed away, pagan priests slipped into office as Christian priests. But the changes were mostly in name only.<br />This eventually led to the Roman Catholic institution, but even in its earliest days, it didn’t quite resemble Romanism as we know it today.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">And for all the mixture of hedonism, paganism and religious prostitution, the LORD still had faithful martyrs like the bishop of Pergamos, Antipas,who were killed for their witness of the truth amid the city of Pergamos.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TxQ_R_Q6528/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TxQ_R_Q6528?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">And despite all of this, there were those among this mixed multitude, those faithful ones who did NOT deny the Name of the LORD, and who remained FAITHFUL – they did “not deny My faith” the LORD said – that is, they held to their biblical integrity, holding on to and following the Word of God, rather than the philosophies and beliefs that were precious to the citizens of pagan Pergamos.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Vs. 14-15 <b><sup>“</sup></b>But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.</span> </i><b><i><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">15&nbsp;</span></sup></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate</span></i></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Two false doctrines that the LORD spoke out against at Pergamos were: the <u>doctrine of Balaam</u> and the <u>doctrine of the Nicolaitanes</u> (which the LORD Jesus still hates): remember in Ephesus, it was <i>the deeds</i> of the Nicolaitanes. What was a practice performed in Ephesus became <i>official church dogma</i> (doctrine) in Pergamos – scholars agree that these deeds and that doctrine was an ecclesial priesthood that held authority over the churches. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">This is unbiblical as all true disciples of Christ, according to <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 PETER 2:9</span></b>, are already a “royal priesthood”. To have a priesthood in the church of Jesus Christ, other than the priesthood of all believers is to establish mediators between God and the church – and we know Scripture teaches that there is only ONE mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 TIM 2:5</span></b>).&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">A man-made priesthood only puts a distance between the LORD Jesus – Who is the Head of the Church and His body – they are guilty of a kind of ‘<i>spiritual decapitation</i>’ of the body of Christ, separating the Head.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">What is the <a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/doctrine-of-Balaam.html">doctrine of Balaam</a>?</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">&nbsp;We read about the false way of Balaam in <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 PET 2</span></b> (see <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">vs. 1-3, 14-15</span></b>) and his greed in <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JUDE :8-16</span></b>.&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Balaam taught King Balak of Moab, an enemy of Israel, to allow the women of his kingdom to seduce the men of Israel, and while they were ‘in the act’ of fornication, the women would bring out the idols of their false gods to worship them. Note the word “taught” – which is what doctrine is all about – it is instruction on how to perform something, and just as Balaam taught Balak how to lure God’s people astray and fall into sin, so too the clergy of Pergamos held doctrine that would lead the church there into sin!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">So, in this compromised church of Pergamos, members would be persuaded to worship the false gods of the pagan society that was all around them, thinly disguised as saints to be venerated. Because it was now popular to be a ‘Christian’ – times were good, the church began to prosper, and money began to flow freely – from the pockets of the people into the hands of the priests! The positions of priesthood and bishops promised a lavish life of ease and prosperity, because the church now had friendship with the world and Pergamos’ wealth was substantial.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>JAMES 4:3-6</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth</span></span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Here the LORD is calling on the saints at the church at Pergamos to repent of their affiliation with these ungodly and pagan practices, and to not follow those that taught these things. He specifically states that if they do not, then He will fight “against them” – those that taught these things, with the sword of His mouth. Judgment would not be delayed, as He said that “[He] will come to [them] quickly”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it</span></span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The “hidden manna” that the LORD is offering is Himself (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 6:31-35, 48-51, 58</span></b>); the true spiritual nourishment that brings health, wholeness and healing – as opposed to the mystical and oft-times occult methods of the pagan practice of healing at the Aesculapius.&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br />It is hidden in the sense that only those who know and love the truth will be able to partake of it. Those who hold on to ungodly, corrupt belief systems – as did the church leadership and their followers at Pergamos, would not know where to find it. Those that stood apart from these were faithful to the LORD, held onto the hidden manna of His Word – not denying “His faith”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The white stone represents a judicious decision: in court trials, when a verdict was being rendered on the accused, if the juror believed they were innocent, they would drop a white stone into a bag. Others who believed they were guilty would drop a black stone in that bag, and once all the jurors rendered their decision, the stones were counted, and the decision of the court was made based on the majority decision.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Here the LORD is saying, that the overcomer is the one who will receive a “not guilty” verdict from the Judge of all the world (<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>JOHN 5:22</b>; <b>ROM 8:1-2</b></span>).</span><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The next church to be examined in this series is church #4 - Thyatira. Until then, the LORD be with you all!</span></span></div>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-18764597925806168342017-10-09T20:40:00.000-07:002017-10-15T12:55:30.529-07:00SEVEN ‘FROM The HEART of JESUS’ LOVE-LETTERS to the SEVEN CHURCHES of REVELATION - To The Church of Smyrna<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://revelationscriptures.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/picture1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://revelationscriptures.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/picture1.jpg" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="298" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">CHURCH #2 SMYRNA<br /><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 1:8-11</span></span></u></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk493268026"><b><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">8&nbsp;</span></sup></b></a><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">And unto the angel of the <u>church in Smyrna</u> write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; </span></b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk493268440"></a><b><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">9&nbsp;</span></sup></b><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk493418732"><sup>10&nbsp;</sup>Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. </a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk493421173"><sup>11&nbsp;</sup>He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death</a></span></b></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">.<b><br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]--></b></span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The name Smyrna comes from the "myrrh," which is a resin and is a critical ingredient used to embalm dead bodies because one of its major properties was its ability to slow down the putrefaction of dead flesh. This type of embalming was used in Egypt and Judea. Myrrh is often remembered as one of the three gifts&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.biblestudy.org/prophecy/how-rich-were-the-magi.html"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">the Magi</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">&nbsp;gave to Jesus after he was born (gold – speaks of the Deity of Christ; frankincense – His priesthood; myrrh – his sacrificial death). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Smyrna was a port city with a good harbor about thirty-five miles northwest of Ephesus and was known for its schools of science and medicine. It boasted of, on the slope of <i>Mount Pagus</i>, a theater that could hold 20,000 spectators, where they celebrated Olympian games. Smyrna (located at modern-day Izmir, Turkey) laid claim on its coins to being the "first city of Asia in size and beauty" (<i>Ramsay</i> 1904:255), and it was indeed a city of great natural beauty. Smyrna had also a long history of loyalty to Rome, having dedicated a temple to the goddess <i>Roma</i> as early as 195 B.C. (<i>Tacitus</i>&nbsp;<i>Annals</i>&nbsp;4.56).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">There is no record of how Christianity came to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkgQSyuUj_k&amp;list=PLg1YZw9xm9BKXTn2-np69zzHS6TdOzOYM&amp;index=13">Smyrna</a>. Like the other Asian cities, Smyrna was probably reached as a result of Paul's ministry in Ephesus (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ACTS 19:10</span></b>). The message to Smyrna accents the contrast between the wealthy Roman city and the poverty-stricken congregation of Christians who lived there (yet had its own kind of riches (v. 9)). If the city was crowned "with porticoes and pictures, or even with gold in excess of what they needed," the angel of the church in Smyrna was promised&nbsp;<i>the crown of life</i>&nbsp;(v. 10); the "life that God has promised to those who love him" (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JAMES 1:12</span></b>). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">By the early second century (a decade or two after John's visions), the congregation at Smyrna had a bishop named <a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/Polycarp.html">Polycarp</a> who was martyred in Smyrna in the year 156 AD. Nowhere were the words&nbsp;<i>be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life,</i>&nbsp;more aptly fulfilled than in the life and death of Polycarp, There is the story of the centurion who escorted him to his execution, and on their journey, Polycarp won him over with his tender disposition and love as he shared the Gospel; the Roman was converted, and when they arrived at the place of Polycarp’s execution, laid his own head down to be beheaded for his new found faith in Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The message to Smyrna assumes that the congregation will soon face an outbreak of persecution, linked to a group labeled&nbsp;<i>a synagogue of Satan</i>&nbsp;(v. 9) and composed of&nbsp;<i>those who say they are Jews and are not.</i>&nbsp;Like the "false apostles" who had come to Ephesus, these <i>false</i>&nbsp;<i>Jews</i>&nbsp;are liars (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 3:9</span></b>) in claiming to be something other than what they are. Most commentators (for example, <i>Beasley-Murray</i> 1974:82; Wall 1991:73) identify this group as actual Jews in Smyrna who refused to accept Jesus as Messiah (compare Paul's distinction between those who are Jews "outwardly" and those who are Jews "inwardly . . . by the Spirit, not by the written Law," <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROM 2:28-29</span></b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The LORD dictated eleven verses in His letter to Ephesus; to Smyrna – the suffering church, He gives them only four verses. Let us bear in mind, that in times of sorrow and suffering, fewer words of comfort are often better than many words of counsel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">REV 2:8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">This church, whose city is based on the word myrrh – as we saw, used for embalming the dead, is given the revelation of the LORD as He Who is the First and the Last, the Alpha and Omega, the One Who dwells outside of time, and in eternity (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ISAIAH 57:15</span></b>). He Who was dead, but is alive with victorious resurrection power – we see this in all of the letters to these seven churches – where the LORD introduces Himself as the One Who can meet their needs; as the One Who is LORD over all of life’s problems, struggles and situations, oppositions and obstacles.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br />For this church that is suffering and enduring persecution and death, He is the Eternal One, the Resurrection and the Life (</span></span><b style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 11:25</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">)!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk493421279"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">REV 2:9a</span></i></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“<i>I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) . . </i>.”<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Again, the LORD knows their works – these works that they are doing for the service of the LORD and in His Name. So often in times of suffering and heartache and tribulation, our attention draws inwardly. We desire, with our focus on ourselves, to be ministered to, rather than looking outwardly, to minister to others.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br />Yet not so with Smyrna – despite the severe persecution that is promised, as well as the tribulation that they are experiencing, they are working for the LORD; their focus is on Him, not their circumstances – awesome!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Amid the lavish wealth among the citizens of Smyrna, the church was dirt poor – not just poor enough so that they had food, water and barely having any more finances beyond that; this was <i>abject poverty</i> where even the basic <i>necessities of life</i> was beyond them! This was the same degree of destitution that Christ experienced – for our sakes He became poor so that we would be rich (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 COR 8:9</span></b>) – and Smyrna was so declared rich by our LORD! Rich in the blessedness of the indwelling Spirit of God, the grace of God, His agape love, His depthless joy, His insurmountable peace, His Almighty patience – <i>THESE</i> are the true riches, <i>NOT</i>the prosperity Gospel junk that Kenneth Copeland and Creflo Dollar preaches!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">REV 2:9a “… and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">This synagogue was in all likelihood, members of the Jewish religion that refused Jesus as the Messiah, and severely persecuted the church, in hand with the Roman government – these say that they are Jews, and are not – Paul addresses this issue of true Jews and false:<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROMANS 2:28-29<br /><sup>28&nbsp;</sup>For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:</span></b></span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b> </b><b><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">29&nbsp;</span></sup></b><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God</span></b></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">This is <i><a href="https://mikeratliff.wordpress.com/2008/05/14/religious-externalism/">religious externalism</a></i>; it’s all for show – dead works done in a vain attempt to ‘look good’ and find approval from God – and FAILING! because there is no genuine change of the heart, which is in need of ‘spiritual circumcision’ that is, a conversion by the Spirit of grace as a result of believing the Gospel, as Abraham did!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">ROMANS 4:11-13<br /><sup>11&nbsp;</sup>And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father <u>of all them</u> that believe, though they <u>be not circumcised</u>; that righteousness might be imputed <u>unto them</u> also: <sup>12&nbsp;</sup>And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. <sup>13&nbsp;</sup>For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROMANS 10:2-4<br /><sup>2&nbsp;</sup>For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. <sup>3&nbsp;</sup>For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. <sup>4&nbsp;</sup>For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth</span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Going about to establish a righteousness by religious means (Jewish, Hindu, Islamic, etc.), apart from repentance, the atonement of sin through the Lamb of God and indwelling of the Holy Spirit is satanic – thus the persecutors of Smyrna are indeed “of the synagogue of Satan”. ‘Satan’ means adversary, and so these religious Jews were enemies that opposed the Gospel (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROM 11:28</span></b>). <br />But we love the Jewish people and pray for them, because they are the elect for the sake of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; they have a destiny ordained by God, that if they receive the Messiah, they too will be converted and no longer laboring in “dead works” in a vain attempt to find approval from God (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">HEB 6:1; 9:14</span></b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">REV 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou <u>shalt</u> suffer: behold, the devil <u>shall</u> cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye <u>shall</u>have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">What word appears three times in vs. 10? It is the word “shall (shalt)” – the same word that appears in:<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 TIM 3:12 <br />Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">This is not a “maybe” or “perhaps” or even “probably” – this is a certainty that the LORD is alerting the church of Smyrna to.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 15:19 <br />If ye were of the world, <u>the world would love his own</u>: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you</span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">.&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The world hates the church of the LORD Jesus Christ, because His Light exposes their evil deeds, and that same Light shines from the church (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 3:19-20</span></b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">From the very beginning of human history – the righteous followers of the LORD were always persecution by the religious and proud people of this world!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">And yet the flip side of the world’s hatred, we have the LORD’s love for us:<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 13:1 <br />Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, <u>having loved his own</u> which were in the world, he loved them unto the end</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The LORD could easily spare the church the suffering and persecution that the world has threatened and committed against the saints – He could stop the enemy from doing this to us; so, why doesn’t He? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">It is the harshness and brutality of persecution, suffering, hardships that works in us the same way that a forge purifies iron ore. Iron is strong when it is pure, but when it’s first dug up, there are all kinds of impurities in it that must be burned away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">It’s the same with us – the LORD uses suffering as a means to an end: to bring to our attention the impurities of sin that resides in us; this “furnace of affliction” (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ISAIAH 48:10</span></b>) refines the saint, burning away the ‘dross’ that keeps us <i>spiritually weak</i>. When we allow these trials to do their work, accept them as from the LORD, together with His Empowering Spirit of grace – these trials make us better, not bitter.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">For those who refuse the furnace, that fight the LORD and rebel against the work He seeks to accomplish in their lives, these trials will make them bitter, not better.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">This is the way of the Cross (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 16:24</span></b>: “…<i>if any man come after me</i>…”) and “…<i>the fellowship of His sufferings</i>…” (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">PHIL 3:10</span></b>), that brings death to the sinful self, allows Christ to manifest His Light and Love in our lives and convicts the Lost of their sin. There is a depth to the saint that is long suffering in trials; they have a sweet fellowship with the LORD that the rest of us cannot know, apart from trials.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The LORD tells the saints of Smyrna that the devil is going to cast <u>some</u> (not many or most) of them into prison to be tried (“trial by fire” as it were) – this demonstrates God’s sovereignty: how He can even use Satan for His own purposes (Consider the first two chapters of Job!). Those that are accounted worthy to suffer for His Name’s sake (See <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 5:11-13</span></b>; <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ACTS 5:41</span></b>). These saints, the “some” mentioned here, will attain to a better resurrection!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">HEB 11:35b-38<br /></span></b><b>…others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they <u>might obtain a better resurrection</u>:<br /></b><b><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">36&nbsp;</span></sup></b><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:</span></b><b> </b><b><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">37&nbsp;</span></sup></b><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;</span></b><b></b><b><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">38&nbsp;</span></sup></b></span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth</span>.</span></b><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The promise of persecution shall last ten days; for the saints at Smyrna, this very well could have been for a literal ten days; historically however, during the time of the church when persecution escalated dramatically – it was a time of extreme suffering that lasted through the administration of <u>10 Caesars&nbsp;</u>…. Interesting. These who were promised persecution looked toward to two things: suffering and death, and a crown of life if proven faithful.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Vs. 11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Again, we see the LORD making provision for the situation that each of these seven churches find themselves in; for the suffering church of Smyrna, the LORD declares Himself as the Resurrected One, and for those who overcome, while they may experience pain, suffering and physical death, they shall not be hurt of the second death (spiritual separation from God) which they who reject Christ will suffer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Next time, we will look at the Love Letter from Jesus to the church of Pergamos! Until then, Keep Your Eyes On the Skies and Don't Believe the Lies - The LORD Jesus Christ Returns Soon From On High!</span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-78431876525794457762017-10-08T09:08:00.001-07:002017-10-08T09:08:23.398-07:00JEWELS From The GOSPEL Of JOHN: JESUS DECLARES HIS DEITY - JOHN 4:25-26<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://themuslimtimesdotinfodotcom.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/gospel-of-john.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="427" height="280" src="https://themuslimtimesdotinfodotcom.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/gospel-of-john.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i>The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. These articles will not run contiguously on this blog but peppered throughout and in the midst of other articles (though some might be posted consecutively). I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints</i>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">We will focus on the relevance of vs. 25 and 26, but let's first read this in context . . .</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>JOHN 4:19-26</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.</b></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.</b></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.</b></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.</b></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he</b></span>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">The title of this post is "JESUS Declares His DEITY" but anyone reading this passage of Scripture above will not find any such statement from the LORD. He never claimed to be God anywhere in these verses. He did elsewhere however:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 8:58 <br />Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am</span></b>.<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 10:30-33</span></b></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>30 I and my Father are one.</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In our present text, He and the Samaritan woman are discussing spiritual matters when the LORD suddenly shows insight into this woman's life, whom He had never met before. She then realized that Jesus must be a prophet and so, engages in these spiritual matters.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The LORD's response to her question regarding the authorized place of worship (Jerusalem or Mt. Gerizim) is something vital to us Christians and must be understood: That those who worship the Father <i><u>must</u></i> do so in Spirit and in Truth! The Father actively <a href="http://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2010/06/seeking-such-to-worship.html">seeks out those who will worship</a> Him accordingly.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Samaritan woman seems resigned in being able to solve this question and states that when the Messiah comes, He will reveal the answers to all such questions. That was something that both Jew and Samaritan agreed upon.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The very Scripture that is anointed of God would be rightly and thoroughly interpreted by the "anointed One" or Messiah of Israel. He will bring light and understanding to every verse of Scripture as these are those that testify of He, Himself: The LORD Jesus the Christ ("Messiah"):<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 5:39<br />Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some might see the verses quoted above where Jesus claims Deity to be a bit obscure, but here He emphatically declares that He is indeed the Messiah (<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>JOHN 4:26</b></span>)! He made the same clear and bold declaration before:<br /></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>MATT 16:15-17</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ </b>[Messiah]<b style="color: #3d85c6;">, the Son of the living God.</b></span><br /><b><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span></b><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So what does His claiming to be the Messiah have anything to do with His claiming to be Deity - God, that is?<br /><br />A thorough examination and understanding of Old Testament Scripture in its portrayal of the Person of the Messiah will in fact, reveal that the Word testifies of His Deity. Rather than go into all of the details of that here, may I encourage you to read this series on <i><a href="http://www.thetruthunderfire.com/">The TRUTH Under FIRE</a></i>, "<i>JESUS is GOD</i>".</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I pray that this will greatly bless you, and also those that you may know, who don't believe this truth; whether they are atheist, agnostic, Jehovah's Witness, Mormon, New Spirituality adherents, etc. perhaps they will come to understand this, after reviewing this series . . .</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2011/12/jesus-is-god-word-incarnate-aka-messiah.html">JESUS is GOD - PART One</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2011/12/jesus-is-god-word-incarnate-aka-messiah_31.html">JESUS is GOD - PART Two</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2012/01/jesus-is-god-word-incarnate-aka-messiah.html"><br /></a></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2012/01/jesus-is-god-word-incarnate-aka-messiah.html">JESUS is GOD - PART Three</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2012/02/jesus-is-god-word-incarnate-aka-messiah.html">JESUS is GOD - PART Four</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2012/02/jesus-is-god-word-incarnate-aka-messiah_27.html">JESUS is GOD - PART Five</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For more about the historicity of the authentic person of Jesus of Nazareth and biblical testimony that He is indeed the Christ, God manifested in the flesh, read this article (which is loaded with links to other articles!) by <a href="http://coldcasechristianity.com/">COLD CASE CHRISTIANITY</a>:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://coldcasechristianity.com/2017/the-case-for-the-historicity-and-deity-of-jesus/">The Case for the Historicity and Deity of Jesus (Free Bible Insert)</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">MAY THE LORD BLESS AND KEEP US, HIS SAINTS, HIS CHILDREN, HIS INHERITANCE UNTIL THE DAY OF HIS SOON RETURN!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Next time we will go over <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 4:32-38</span></b> "MEAT and GREET"</span><br /><br />James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-21305136292201292452017-09-28T20:10:00.002-07:002017-10-15T12:54:25.411-07:00SEVEN ‘FROM The HEART of JESUS’ LOVE-LETTERS to the SEVEN CHURCHES of REVELATION - To The Church of Ephesus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://revelationscriptures.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/picture1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://revelationscriptures.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/picture1.jpg" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="297" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">So now that we have had an introduction and preliminary observations from Chapter One, we will get into each of these seven churches in Chapters 2 and 3 and learn of the LORD's counsels, corrections, and commendations:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Church #1 EPHESUS:</span></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 2:1-7 <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk492925754"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">1&nbsp;</span></b></a><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Unto the angel of the <u>church of Ephesus</u> write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;&nbsp;</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk492926321"></a><b><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">2&nbsp;</span></sup></b><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: <sup>3&nbsp;</sup>And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. </span></b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk492926381"></a><b><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">4&nbsp;</span></sup></b><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. </span></b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk492926608"></a><b><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">5&nbsp;</span></sup></b><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. </span></b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk492926650"></a><b><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">6&nbsp;</span></sup></b><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate. <sup>7&nbsp;</sup></span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God</span></b></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">In the time of the Romans, Ephesus bore the title of "the first and greatest metropolis of Asia." It was distinguished for the Temple of Diana (q.v.), who there had her chief shrine; and for its theatre, which was the largest in the world, capable of containing 50,000 spectators. Dozens of gold covered colonnades shown brilliantly in the morning sunlight. Statues exulting in the goddess Diana were purchased by devotees far and wide and then placed in the Temple. It was known as one of the seven Ancient Wonders of the World.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br />In this city, the seeds of the gospel were sown immediately after Pentecost (<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>ACTS 2:9</b>;&nbsp;<b>6:9</b></span>). At the close of his <u>second missionary journey</u> (about A.D. 51), when Paul was returning from Greece to Syria (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ACTS 18:18-21</span></b>), he first visited this city. He remained, however, for only a short time, as he was hastening to keep the feast, probably of Pentecost, at Jerusalem; but he left Aquila and Priscilla behind him to carry on the work of spreading the gospel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">During his <u>third missionary journey</u> Paul reached <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqL_k3qJ0gc&amp;list=PLg1YZw9xm9BKXTn2-np69zzHS6TdOzOYM&amp;index=12">Ephesus</a> from the "upper coasts" (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ACTS 19:1</span></b>), i.e., from the inland parts of Asia Minor, and tarried here for about three years; and so successful and abundant were his labors that "all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks" (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ACTS 19:10</span></b>). Probably during this period, the seven churches of the Apocalypse were founded, for the most part, not by Paul's personal labors, but by missionaries whom he may have sent out from Ephesus, and by the influence of converts returning to their homes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">REV 1:1</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><i></i><br /><i>Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks</i>;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The angel is the messenger – the one that delivers the Word of the LORD to the church, in this case, it’s not an angel, but a man, a pastor – and he is to deliver this Word to the LORD’s flock.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The LORD holds the seven stars in His right hand – these are all the seven angels, messengers – pastors that He holds: in His <i>right</i> hand – they are in a place of honor and favor, and are provided His grace and strength (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 1:20</span></b>).&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br />He walks in their midst. Any time you have a congregation of saints, who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, even if they are just two or three – that comprises a body, an assembly, a church of sorts: the LORD is in their midst (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 18:20</span></b>), just as the LORD is in the midst of these candlesticks, symbolic of the churches (or more accurately, lamp stands, full of oil (the Holy Spirit) and shining brightly with the LIGHT of the LORD in this dark world (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 5:14</span></b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">On his return from that third missionary journey, Paul touched at Miletus, some 30 miles south of Ephesus (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ACTS 20:15</span></b>), and sending for the elders of Ephesus to meet him there, he delivered to them that touching farewell charge which is recorded in&nbsp;<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ACTS 20:18-35</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ACTS 20:28-31<br /><sup>28&nbsp;</sup>Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. <sup>29&nbsp;</sup>For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. <sup>30&nbsp;</sup>Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. <sup>31&nbsp;</sup>Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears</span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">So, the church at Ephesus was extremely careful in watching out for false teachers, false apostles, wolves and those from within the church that sought to leads God’s saints astray. Jesus says to them, “I know your works” – something that He says to every one of these seven churches. But to Ephesus He declares that for His name’s sake they have labored and not fainted – they were diligent, industrious, so very busy on their ministry for the King – that they had no time for the King! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">REV 2:2-3</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />&nbsp;<i>I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">He tells them, “<i>thou <u>hast tried them</u> which say they are apostles, and are not,</i>” – they had discernment by the Spirit and found the falseness of these so-called apostles. They rejoiced in the Truth of God’s Word and used it to prove who the false apostles were. They had been commended for their patience – the word “patience” is used twice, in verse 2 and 3. <br />The saints here labored and produced works for His Name’s sake and were faithful – they fainted not. They patiently endured, they continued, they were steadfast, they didn’t give up. They persisted.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">How many churches today, which were once faithful, and since have fainted – quit, given up, ceased in their faithfulness to the LORD and the truth of His Word, and the Spirit of Truth. This is the day of apostasy – but devotional prayer will keep us from fainting (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">LUKE 18:1</span></b>), and receiving mercy and grace from the LORD, we are enabled to keep going (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 COR 4:1, 15-16</span></b>); we must encourage ourselves in the LORD (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">PSALM 42:5,1</span></b>1) and remember that in due season, we shall reap what has been sown into our lives: “if we faint not” (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">GAL 6:9</span></b>).&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">They are not like those who were mere professors, and claimed to have done so many works for the LORD – of these, the LORD said, “I never knew you” (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 7:23</span></b>). He never says that of this church of Ephesus; He knows them, knows their work. He knows that they didn’t tolerate those who “are evil” – what about some churches today, and what they tolerate ‘in the name of love’ – things that are evil, that Ephesus never put up with.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Then, after all of His commendation, the LORD says, “Nevertheless . . .”<br />Suppose you’re up for your annual review at work; your sitting across from your boss’ desk as he rattles off all of your awesome accomplishments, comments that you did really good, but then you hear him say,</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />“Nevertheless . . .” How does that make you feel? What do you suspect is coming – a pink slip maybe??</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">REV 2:4-5</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />4 <i>Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love</i>. 5 <i>Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The LORD tells them that they have left their first love – not only first as in ‘number one’ but also ‘the best’ – though Ephesus was His darling, greatly beloved, they did not reciprocate. They left their intimate relationship with the LORD, the fervency, the longing and yearning, the expectation of meeting – they were just too busy.<br /><br />The LORD poured out all of His strength, all of His soul and heart, all of His will and passion, and His blood in the holy and consecrated act of the Cross – all so that we would be redeemed, be washed in His blood, obtain right standing before God the Father, receive adoption as His beloved children – for His glory and His purpose, in having fellowship – a love relationship with us. Such is the tender-heartedness of the LORD our God. He loved us with all of His heart and soul and mind and strength, and desires that we should love Him the same way.<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">DEUT 6:4-5<br /><sup>4&nbsp;</sup>Hear, O Israel: The&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;our God is one&nbsp;Lord:</span></b></span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><br /></b><b><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">5&nbsp;</span></sup></b><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">And thou shalt love the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might</span></b></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">.<br /><br />Yet too often, especially in today’s world – we Christians don’t have time; we are so busy, and if the LORD gets any of our time, it’s what’s left over after we are done doing everything else.<br /><br />Let us change this (if we find this to be necessary): let’s offer the LORD the first fruits of our time, beginning the day with Him, lavishing upon Him the love that He so richly deserves!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The Ephesians didn’t <u>realize</u> their condition; it took the LORD to expose it to them. He admonishes them to <u>remember</u>where they once stood, where they had fallen. To <u>repent</u> of their neglect of their Beloved Savior, “and do the first works” – again, ‘the best’ works – which would be to labor to enter into the rest of the LORD (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">HEB 4:11</span></b>), to rest from their own works and find satisfaction in the only One Who can bring such satisfaction (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 7:37</span></b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">In a world of deceitful, sinful and empty mirages, amidst the barren bleak deserts of parched souls, there is an&nbsp;<a href="http://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2011/07/revisiting-oasis.html"><b>O.A.S.I.S.</b></a>!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Only the Almighty Savior Immanuel Satisfies!&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">If the Ephesian church did not remember from where they had fallen, and repent, then the LORD would remove their candlestick – their witness as a church – the light that they had shown before this darkened world would be removed, and the church in Ephesus would be no more. History shows us that this was in fact, the case.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">REV 2:6 <br /><i>But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate</i></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">What are the Nicolaitanes? The word is not absolutely understood, but some believe that the meaning of this word is “ruling over the people”: <i>Nico</i> – to conquer, to experience victory, to have the rule over, and <i>laity</i> – the people. The “deeds” – the conduct, actions, toil in relation to the people by assuming rule over them. Some scholars suggest that this is where the idea of a New Testament priesthood came into being, apart from the priesthood that all Christians are already a part of in Christ, Who is our high priest, after the order of Melchizedek (<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>1 PET 2:9</b>; <b>HEB 6:20</b></span>). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">This false priesthood dominated the Christians and was probably the makings of the Roman Catholic priesthood that came into being centuries later. The deeds developed into the practice (or doctrine) of the Nicolaitanes in Pergamos (vs. 15). Having an ‘upper class’ of Christian rulers, compared to the ‘lower class’ that were kept distant from Christ, is the thing He hates.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">REV 2:7<br /><b><sup>7&nbsp;</sup></b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk493012857">He that hath an ear, let him hear </a>what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">“He that hath an ear, let him hear…” We read this phrase in <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MARK 4:9</span></b> and <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">LUKE 8:8</span></b>, both having to do with the parable of the sower of the seed. What is the connection between this parable and what the LORD tells these seven churches?<br />Something for you to pray about; seek the LORD on this and see what He shows you!<br /><br />To those who are the overcomers – and if we are overcomers, it is because (1) we are born of God and (2) have exercised our faith in the LORD Jesus to overcome (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 JOHN 5:4</span></b>). The overcomers are blessed in partaking of the tree of Life that is in the midst of the paradise of God (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 22:2,14</span></b>). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">That life that is eternal is in knowing God the Father and God the Son (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 17:3</span></b>) – it wasn’t contained in knowing the doctrines of Scripture (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 5:39</span></b> “<i>Search the Scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life</i>. . .”). The Tree of Life is entwined in the personal knowledge and relationship with God, in a love for God.</span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Jesus in vs. 1 that He “… walks in the midst of the seven candlesticks…” – the churches; He isn’t remote or distant, or in a place that’s difficult for us to reach; He is in our midst, and He is accessible to us, who are born of His Spirit, and we can spend time in getting to know and love Him.</span><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Let’s not fail the LORD on this point as Ephesus failed – let us hold fast to our first and best love: the LORD Jesus Christ Himself – experience His love for us, to study His Word devotionally as well as practically, and as we bask in His love, we return that love in response to Him, and this is the best and only motivator where works done in His Name are accomplished!</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Next time, we will look at the Love Letter from Jesus to the church of Smyrna! Until then, Keep Your Eyes On the Skies and Don't Believe the Lies - The LORD Jesus Christ Returns Soon From On High!</span></span></span></div>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-11793216043250851492017-09-24T19:53:00.000-07:002017-09-24T19:53:28.936-07:00ARE YOU ON F.I.R.E. for JESUS?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/s480x480/e15/13696690_506112909588379_1446814296_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=OTU3MTk0MjM2MDMxNTMzOTAy.2" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/s480x480/e15/13696690_506112909588379_1446814296_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=OTU3MTk0MjM2MDMxNTMzOTAy.2" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">I was born again at this point in time (AUG of '80) for about two months. Up until then, I had been to a few different kinds of Bible studies; they were all good to one degree or another - some were based on a lot of history; others invited the perspectives of the Christians gathered together as they expressed what they thought on any given verse.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Other studies were centered around the Bible directly, and the verses changed every week, but it was always the Gospel message, given to those who had already received it.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Then I arrived at this point in time, two months into <a href="http://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2006/08/can-i-get-witness.html">my salvation</a>, I entered into this house in my neighborhood where I heard they had really awesome Bible study - I descended the stairs into the basement and found a few people gathered there. I saw this blond haired lady with glasses and a guitar resting on her lap. Across from her was a tall, dark haired man - her husband.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">When I introduced myself, she repeated my name, "Jim <i>Fire?</i> Are you <i>on fire</i> for the LORD?"</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">I beamed, nodded and gave a resounding "Amen!"</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">I then sat down and listened to my first message by pastor Chuck Smith, on the Beatitudes - and that began my life long journey in the Word of God. And I must say, those first few years were foundational and grounded me on the Rock. I went home after every visit to that house, having received anywhere from 3 to 5 cassette tapes at a time and devoured them, writing notes down, underlining passages in my Bible, and returning the tapes with a number of questions directed at my spiritual parents in the faith.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">That flame of the Word has kept me through the years and is a testament to its ability to keep a saint on FIRE for the LORD!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">In this article, I want to talk about what it takes to be on F.I.R.E. for Jesus:</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><b><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">F</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">.ERVENCY&nbsp;</span><b><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">I</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">.NDWELLING&nbsp;</span><b><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">R</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">.IGHTEOUS </span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>E</b></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">.VERLASTING</span></u></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">From the <i>IN CHRIST BIBLE STUDY</i> <a href="http://www.inchristbiblestudy.com/in-christ-word-of-the-week/in-christ-word-definitions/fervent">website</a> (note: this author does not necessarily endorse everything as taught on this site) we have the following on:&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><u>FERVENCY</u> -</span></b><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>ROMANS 12:9-12</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.&nbsp;</b></span><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;</span></span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer</span></b>;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">(NKJV)</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">"not lagging in diligence, FERVENT in spirit, serving the Lord"</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">FERVENT —Greek: zeo &nbsp;(<i>dzeh'-o</i>) - verb</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><i>MICKELSON’S ENHANCED STRONG'S DICTIONARIES</i>:</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">to be hot;&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">(of liquids) to boil;&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">(of solids) to glow;&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">(figuratively) to be fervent (earnest)</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><i>THAYER'S GREEK DEFINITIONS</i>:</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">&nbsp;used of boiling anger, love, zeal, for what is good or bad etc.&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">fervent in spirit, said of zeal for what is good</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><i>ULTIMATE WORD STUDY DICTIONARY</i>:</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">To seethe, bubble, boil, from the sound of boiling water. In the NT, only applied spiritually, meaning to be fervent (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ACTS 18:25</span></b>; <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROMANS 12:11</span></b>).</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><i>JOHN GILL - EXPOSITION OF THE ENTIRE BIBLE</i>:</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">Fervent in spirit; in their own spirits, for the glory of God, the honour of Christ, and the cause of religion, in imitation of Christ himself, and as Phinehas and <a href="http://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2011/08/old-testament-examples-of-spiritual.html">Elijah</a> were; which fervency of spirit is opposed to that lukewarmness of soul, <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 3:16</span></b>, that coldness of affection, and leaving of the first love, so much complained of, and resented by Christ in his people: or else in the Spirit of God; for there may be fervency in men's spirits, which comes not from the Spirit of God, as in the Jews, and particularly Saul, before his conversion, who had "a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge", <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROM 10:2</span></b>; but when "the love of God is shed abroad in the heart" by the Spirit of God, <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROM 5:5</span></b>, this will make a man's spirit fervent in the service of God, for which the apostle would have these believers concerned.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">A disciple of the wise men among the Jews is said to be, "fervent", because the law is as a boiling pot unto him; much more should a disciple of Christ be fervent, who has the Gospel of Christ, the love of God, and the grace of the Spirit to inflame his soul with true <a href="http://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2010/02/zealous-for-name-of-lord.html">zeal and fervour</a></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">What makes water boil but heat, typically by means of fire? - And is not our God a consuming fire (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">HEB 12:29</span></b>)?, So to be fervent, zealous, 'on fire' for the LORD is to abandon oneself into the very Spirit of God, much as&nbsp;Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were fully abandoned to the fiery furnace that Nebuchadnessar consigned them to (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">DAN 3</span></b>). It was in this place that they themselves were unharmed, but those things that bound them (their ropes) were burned away.<br />Likewise, as we surrender ourselves to the LORD and allow His Holy Fire to consume our sinful ways, we find that our flesh binds and hinders us less and less - enabling ourselves to grow closer to the LORD in love, worship, revelation of the deeper things of God.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Steel will glow when super-heated by flame - and likewise, the light of the LORD will shine as we surrender ourselves to refining, the burning away of our sinful ways, so as to not pollute the name of the LORD, but instead honor and glorify Him!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Just as a sword will endure the forge and as a result, the metal is tested and strengthened, having all of the impurities burned away, likewise the saint that endures affliction, trials and suffering at the hand of God, will become strengthened and an able weapon in&nbsp;<a href="http://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2009/11/are-you-knyht-in-his-majestys-sacred.html">His Majesty's Sacred Service</a>!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Both water and steel will require time in the flame - the water doesn't boil automatically; the steel does not become molten in a moment. So too with our trials and hardships -under the watchful eye of the Master Smith, He extends our time in the flame just long enough to accomplish His glorious purposes.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>ISAIAH 48:10-11</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.&nbsp;</b></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">11 For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Fervency is the opposite of calloused, cold apathy and hypocrisy; it is a condition of the heart that yearns for the LORD, and having received of Him His graces and gifts is at the same time satisfied and also hungering for more. It is <a href="http://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-passionate-thirst-for-god_10.html">an unquenchable passion</a> that is dissatisfied with any of the lures this world will provide, and focused on JESUS - caring for the things that are on His Heart, engaged in His mission, desirous to get involved in His plans, exalting His Word, glorifying His name, and blessed when He is the center of attention - not oneself.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><u>INDWELLING</u></b></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"> -&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>EPHESIANS 5:18</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>ROMANS 8:9,11</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.<br />But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br />Being 'on fire'&nbsp;<i>can be</i> the result of religious fervency as was noted previously (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROM 10:2</span></b>). However such fervent attributes are of human manufacture (or even demonically inspired), and not of the LORD, and thus ultimately impotent.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br />What sets apart godly fervency apart from its cheap, religious imitation<u><i> is God</i></u>; specifically God indwelling the heart of a human being. As we know, the heart is a wicked, devastatingly, incurably wicked thing that God cannot even think to inhabit (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JER 17:9</span></b>); this is why we need and why God provides for us, a new heart, miraculously generated by His Spirit (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">EZEK 36:26</span></b>; <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 1:12-13</span></b>; <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">3:3-5</span></b>); and this happens every time a sinner repents before the LORD, and receives His salvation by faith, believing <a href="http://www.thetruthunderfire.com/p/gospel-message.html">the Gospel of Christ Jesus</a>!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">By the indwelling Spirit of God, being on fire for JESUS is not dependent on our mood or emotions, or our will power, or determination - it is the power of God manifest in us; even when against all odds, when all the forces of hell and earth are arrayed against us and attempting to cause us to submit to their ungodly ways - the Spirit of the LORD rises up in us, empowering us to not bend the knee to the god of this world (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 COR 4:4</span></b>). It is the indwelling Christ that brings the Christian to spiritual victory and allows us to overcome all the world by faith (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 JOHN 5:4</span></b>).</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">In all reality, every single born-again Christian is a living Temple of the Holy Spirit (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 COR 6:19-20</span></b>) - that is mind boggling when you think of it! The Eternal, Almighty, Omni-present and Holy God <i>lives inside of our hearts!</i> That single truth, when pondered upon, will rouse up the sleepiest saint from their lethargy, and when brought together with a feasting of the Word Inspired, with reverent worship of God, with a life committed to the Gospel - will ensure that&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2013/07/show-me.html">the saint's</a> inspiring inferno for Immanuel Who indwells His people shall endure!&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">This indwelling Spirit of God has been mentioned in Scripture as the "earnest" or down payment (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 COR 1:22; 5:5; EPH 1:14</span></b>) that God has laid down for us who are the redeemed, until the time comes for the redemption of our entire being (body, soul and spirit - our heart (or spirit) is indwelt by the Spirit of God, our soul/mind is in process of redemption (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROM 12:1-2</span></b>), via sanctification, and one day, these corruptible bodies shall put on incorruption, themselves being redeemed at the rapture/resurrection of the church (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROM 8:23</span></b>).&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">In the references cited above from CORINTHIANS and EPHESIANS, the word "sealed" is used, which in the Greek is <i>sprigizo</i>, meaning "to stamp with a signet or private mark - (such as Pilate used to seal the tomb of Jesus; such a seal cannot be broken except by the one whose stamp made it) for security or preservation; to attest to, to set one's seal upon. It indicates security and permanency; of the certain doom of Satan [who cannot escape judgment]. It refers to ownership, the thing being stamped as owned by the one whose signet stamped them, as were slaves in ancient cultures. It stresses the sacred formalities of the transaction and <i>guarantee of the full complement of the content</i>. For the believer, so sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, this refers to the idea of destination as something certain - "<u>unto</u> the day of redemption".&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Both<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> PHIL 1:6</span></b> and <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">HEB 13:5</span></b> indicate that the LORD will complete the work that He began - that this is a promise and a certainty because of His power and foreknowledge: He is both able to complete and shall indeed complete the work of salvation in the life of the genuine believer. He will not leave nor forsake us, it says in HEBREWS. Since God knows all things, He knows who among the many professing believers are actually saved, and of these, He has sealed them with the Spirit, promising with this 'down payment' that He will complete His work.<br />If such a one were to fall away, such a down payment would never be made, as He would know that they would do so. What we may conclude from this is that the genuine believer is secured, permanently in their salvation by the earnest of the indwelling Spirit.<br /><br />Such a comfort and security in the heart of the true child of God would never entice them to letting sin to continue, that grace may abound (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROM 6:1</span></b>), but have the blessed peace and knowledge that He that began the work of grace and salvation, will see to it Himself, that we are completed in Him! This in turn will well up in the heart of the genuine believer such a fervor, such a joy, such a peace that can never be quenched or dis-annulled by any trials, circumstances, lapses of faith or anyone or anything else that would seek to separate us from the love of Christ (<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>ROM 8:35</b></span>)!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><u>RIGHTEOUS</u> -&nbsp;</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">What hope does this world ever have to know the true and living God, when we are a race of fallen humanity (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 TIM 6:15-16; ROM 7:10-14</span></b>)? How can we have fellowship with God when our very nature is unrighteous and therefore unacceptable to a Holy God, whose holiness is beyond the scope of human understanding?</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">It is because of Christ and Christ alone that we have atonement for our sin, as well as the righteousness of Christ imputed ("charged to our account") to us (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROM 3:22; 5:17</span></b>) so that we may have every confidence in approaching the very throne of God in our prayer, and interaction with our Creator God (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">HEB 4:16</span></b>), without fear of wrath or rejection from He Who is now Someone we cry out to as "Abba, Father" (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">GAL 4:6</span></b>).</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">This is a joy beyond compare - that we are not only accounted righteous by the vicarious work of Christ's crucifixion, death and resurrection, but also by the Spirit enabled to grow in righteous conduct that is pleasing to our Father. Any born again believer will tell you that "it's good to be good!" And we have our LORD to thank for that!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>1 TIM 1:5<br />5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">This is not a righteousness that belongs to an exclusive society - but the righteousness which is the very quality of God's holy character - and available to all who want it (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 5:10</span></b>)! Amazing! No religion can produce this, no philosophy can ever conceive of it, no morality can ever come close to it (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ISAIAH 64:6</span></b>) - and yet by the whispered prayer of a broken and contrite heart, God '<i>sits up and takes notice</i>' and responds with His grace and mercy (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">PSALM 51:17</span></b>)!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Before I was saved, before understood what the Cross and salvation was really all about, I was plagued by the questions, "How can I prove myself to be righteous before the LORD? What must I do to be accepted by Him?"</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Those questions were summarily answered by the LORD Jesus Christ in His WORD, when I read for the first time <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROMANS 4</span></b>, and this led me to <a href="http://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2006/08/can-i-get-witness.html">my salvation</a>!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Being on FIRE for JESUS is being so in love with Him, because of His great love with which He ably demonstrated His heart to and for us, that the fire is not seen at all as something radical, but reasonable! We saints are made acceptable in the beloved (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">EPH 1:6-7</span></b>). We are His sons and daughters, adopted and brought into the household of God (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">EPH 2:19</span></b>). It is no wonder that we may become so on fire for the LORD, with every good reason to be so ignited!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>PSALM 9:7-8</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>7 But the Lord shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.</b></span><br /><b style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot;, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">8 And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The ONLY ones who will not only survive, but THRIVE under the scrutiny of God's Holy Eyes in Judgment are the saints that are granted the righteousness of Christ - the exact same quality of righteousness with which He will judge the world (and our sins were judged at the cross already - we will only be judged at <i>the Bema seat of Christ</i> - not for our sins, but for our works done in Christ's Name - whether they were truly of Christ or our own work (<b><span style="color: #45818e;">2 COR 5:10</span></b>).</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><u>EVERLASTING</u> -&nbsp;</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">We are partakes of the <u>Everlasting Covenant</u>; we are the object of <u>Everlasting Love</u>; we are the beneficiaries of <u>Everlasting Grace</u> and infused with <u>Everlasting Life</u>; we are strengthened and equipped by the <u>Everlasting arms</u>!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">HEBREWS 13:19-21</span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">19 But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.</span></span></b><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the <u>everlasting covenant</u>,</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">Some covenants, like the Mosaic and the Land covenants were conditional; that is, God promised to do certain things for Israel if they were faithful to do their part. Other covenants, like the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants were unconditional, which meant that the burden of fulfilling them was on God alone - regardless of what Israel would or would not do. The everlasting covenant was likewise an unconditional covenant in that it rested solely upon the shed blood of the LORD Jesus Christ; the significance of this everlasting covenant was in that fact - that the new testament was sealed and legitimized by the death of the testator (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">HEB 9:16</span></b>) - and His blood being shed for our sins. The faithfulness of the LORD in securing for us this everlasting covenant - for Israel as well as us Gentiles - is something that can ensure that the flames of our passion and love for Him remains fiery!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JEREMIAH 31:3-4</span></b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>3 The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an <u>everlasting love</u>: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">4 Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The love of the LORD is an everlasting love - not fickle or uncertain; His love as is His grace is unconditional (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">DEUT 7:6-8</span></b>) . Whereas our own love is human, prone to failure, tepid in its potency compared with that of the Almighty's - His is stalwart and infinite. He is Himself the very personification of love: <i>agape</i> love in the Greek, which means that the one who does the loving is focused solely on the one who is loved, concerned with their needs and fulfillment, with no regard whatsoever to one's own needs or costs in providing that love.<br />Considering how much God loved this world, without regard for what it would cost Him - the death of His own beloved and only begotten Son - how profound and deep is this love (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 3:16; 1 JOHN 4:10</span></b>)! Partaking of such love - and receiving freely through the knowledge of His Word ("a love letter penned over thousands of years, written in the blood of His dear Son") and by His Spirit (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROM 15:30</span></b>) is something that will ensure that we stay "on fire for JESUS!" Let us never be so busy that we ignore our relationship with the LORD, and neglect His love for us. This was the LORD's charge against Ephesus in His letter, written in the book of <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>REVELATION 2:1-5</b></span>.</span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 PET 5:10 <br />But the God of <u>all grace</u>, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">PSALM 100:5 <br />For the Lord is good; <u>his mercy is everlasting</u>; and his truth endureth to all generations</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">"Grace and mercy" are often spoken of as the 'Siamese twins' of the Scriptures - you seldom see one without the other, and grace always precedes mercy - grammatically in the verses of Scripture as well as doctrinally. His mercies are everlasting, thus we recognize that grace is likewise. The God of - not some, many or most but - "all grace" - Who has called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus is the One from Whom we receive these vast treasure troves of beneficent blessings (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">EPH 1:7; 2:7</span></b>). The reservoir of God''s riches in grace will never run dry - any more than the most expansive and deepest lake in the world run dry because a sparrow desires to take a drink from it (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">HEB 4:16</span></b>). Having provided such grace for us, we may rest assured that by such enabling virtue, we can persevere in the passionate fire for Jesus all the days of our lives!</span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>DEUT 33:26-28</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>26 There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky.</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the <u>everlasting arms</u>: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Consider Who it is that brings us every necessary provision, every stalwart defense, every Word of encouragement, wisdom and peace, Who alone brings us salvation - and who can prevent His delivery of these precious commodities? NO ONE! His strength under girds us, His protection surrounds us, His benefits overshadows us; and they arrive in God's divine sense of punctuality. While we are yet speaking, He answers (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ISAIAH 65:24</span></b>). We need not wait for His help to arrive - as we would for the police if we report a break-in, or a child who is ailing in bed calling out to their parents - He is ever-present, and ever ready to bring us the aid that we need, when we need it (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">PSALM 46:1</span></b>).</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">With such resources as these, brought to us by His everlasting arms - His mere hand measures the heavens (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ISAIAH 48:13</span></b>)! - we may be assured that such passionate zeal and love for Him is not in vain. His faithfulness indeed endures to all generations.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Let us take these valuable truths as found in God's Word, and stoke our hearts with them, and pray that the LORD enflames us to such intensity, that we will never be snuffed out by the smothering influences of this world or the darkness that rules it!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>PSALM 89:1-5</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><b>I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><b>2 For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><b>3 I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><b>4 Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah.</b></span><br /><b><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"></span></b><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">5 And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O Lord: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints</span></b>.</span>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-58450328380462500862017-09-15T20:33:00.000-07:002018-02-17T14:08:10.993-08:007 ‘FROM The HEART of JESUS’ Love-Letters to the 7 Churches of Revelation: An Introduction<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TKC0ijQCh34/U35FVmMWIGI/AAAAAAAABr0/OGW7OUih1c0/s1600/7-stars-lampstands-and-churches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="751" data-original-width="827" height="362" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TKC0ijQCh34/U35FVmMWIGI/AAAAAAAABr0/OGW7OUih1c0/s1600/7-stars-lampstands-and-churches.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">INTRO:</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I owe much of the following teaching to insights by Chuck Missler, who was one of my favorite Bible teachers, but in these latter days, his leanings towards Jewish mysticism has led me to remove his ministry link from my TTUF site.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />Still, his expositional studies through the Word of God are still in my library and they are a blessing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The study of these seven letters <i>FROM The MIND of FIRE</i> will be included in a full, in-depth study of the book of REVELATION, in it's entirety on the main site of <i>The TRUTH Under FIRE </i>(<a href="http://www.thetruthunderfire.com/">www.thetruthunderfire.com</a>).</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The BIBLE’S BOOK ENDS: GENESIS and REVELATION:<br /><br /></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I reviewed <a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/revelation/introduction/genesis-and-revelation-as-bookends.html">a chart online</a> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">that makes comparisons between the first and last books of the Bible, GENESIS and REVELATION; the themes found in both books begin in GENESIS and end in REVELATION. Some of these are as follows:<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">GENESIS</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">– reveals the creation of a temporary world; <b>REVELATION</b> reveals an eternal world.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><table align="left" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="background: white; border-collapse: collapse; border: none; margin-left: 6.75pt; margin-right: 6.75pt; mso-border-alt: outset black .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 3.75pt 3.75pt 3.75pt 3.75pt; mso-table-anchor-horizontal: margin; mso-table-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-table-left: center; mso-table-lspace: 9.0pt; mso-table-rspace: 9.0pt; mso-table-top: 8.7pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 659px;"> <tbody><tr> <td style="border-top: solid #DDDDDD 1.0pt; border: inset black 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 248.8pt;" valign="top" width="332"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Division of light and darkness (</span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/genesis/1-4.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Gen. 1:4</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: inset black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: inset black 1.0pt; border-top: solid #DDDDDD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 245.8pt;" valign="top" width="328"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">No night there (</span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/revelation/21-25.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Rev. 21:25</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: inset black 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 248.8pt;" valign="top" width="332"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Division of land and sea (</span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/genesis/1-10.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Gen. 1:10</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: inset black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: inset black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 245.8pt;" valign="top" width="328"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">No more sea (</span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/revelation/21-1.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Rev. 21:1</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: inset black 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 248.8pt;" valign="top" width="332"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Rule of sun and moon (</span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/genesis/1-16.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Gen. 1:16</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: inset black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: inset black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 245.8pt;" valign="top" width="328"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">No need of sun or moon (</span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/revelation/21-23.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Rev. 21:23</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: inset black 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 248.8pt;" valign="top" width="332"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">First heavens and earth are finished (</span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/passage/?q=genesis+2:1-3" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Gen. 2:1-3</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: inset black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: inset black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 245.8pt;" valign="top" width="328"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">New heaven and earth are forever (</span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/revelation/21-2.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Rev. 21:2</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: inset black 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 248.8pt;" valign="top" width="332"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Man is in a prepared garden (</span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/passage/?q=genesis+2:8-9" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Gen. 2:8-9</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: inset black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: inset black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 245.8pt;" valign="top" width="328"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Man is in a prepared city (</span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/revelation/21-2.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Rev. 21:2</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: inset black 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 248.8pt;" valign="top" width="332"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">There is a river flowing out of Eden (</span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/genesis/2-10.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Gen. 2:10</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: inset black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: inset black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 245.8pt;" valign="top" width="328"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">There is a river flowing from God’s throne (</span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/revelation/22-1.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Rev. 22:1</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: inset black 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 248.8pt;" valign="top" width="332"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Tree of life is in the midst of the garden (</span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/genesis/2-9.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Gen. 2:9</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: inset black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: inset black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 245.8pt;" valign="top" width="328"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Tree of life is throughout the city (</span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/revelation/22-2.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Rev. 22:2</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: inset black 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 248.8pt;" valign="top" width="332"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">God walking in the garden (</span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/genesis/3-8.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Gen. 3:8</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: inset black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: inset black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 245.8pt;" valign="top" width="328"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">God dwelling with His people (</span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/revelation/21-3.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Rev. 21:3</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: inset black 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 248.8pt;" valign="top" width="332"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Bride formed for her husband (</span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/passage/?q=genesis+2:21-23" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Gen. 2:21-23</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: inset black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: inset black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 245.8pt;" valign="top" width="328"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Bride adorned for her husband (</span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/revelation/21-2.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Rev. 21:2</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: inset black 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 248.8pt;" valign="top" width="332"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Garden accessible to the Liar (</span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/passage/?q=genesis+3:1-5" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Gen. 3:1-5</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: inset black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: inset black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 245.8pt;" valign="top" width="328"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">City closed to all liars (</span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/revelation/21-27.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Rev. 21:27</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: inset black 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 248.8pt;" valign="top" width="332"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Man in God’s image (Gen.&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/genesis/1-27.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Gen. 1:27</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: inset black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: inset black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 245.8pt;" valign="top" width="328"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Man in God’s presence (</span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/revelation/21-3.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Rev. 21:3</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: inset black 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 248.8pt;" valign="top" width="332"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Man is the steward (Gen.&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/genesis/2-17.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Gen. 2:17</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: inset black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: inset black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: inset black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #DDDDDD .75pt; padding: 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; width: 245.8pt;" valign="top" width="328"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Man is the heir (</span><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/revelation/21-7.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Rev. 21:7</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> </tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></u></b></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></u></b></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><br /><br /></span></u></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></u></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></u></b></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></u></b></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></u></b></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></u></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></u></b></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></u></b></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></u></b></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><br /></span></u></b></span><br /><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><br /></span></u></b></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><br /></span></u></b></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><br /></span></u></b></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">THREE DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS PROVIDED:</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">In reading these seven letters to these seven churches, the question is often asked, Why <i>these</i>seven? Where is the church of Jerusalem? Of Antioch? Or Corinth? No, the LORD specifically focused on these seven and for very specific reasons.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">1) First of all, these letters were addressed and applicable to these churches that existed back in that day; they were delivered to the pastors (“angels” = messengers) and read to the congregations. It is implied that each of these letters were to be read <i>by the other churches </i>as well.<br /><br />2) Secondly, It’s interesting that these churches are addressed <i>in the order that they are</i>: Ephesus is addressed first, and then Smyrna, then Pergamos and the other four follows. If they were addressed <i>in any other order</i>, they wouldn’t accurately portray what we know in church history. Over the last 2000 years, the church of Jesus Christ has followed a certain path in history, and these churches represent that history accurately! We can therefore find applicability of these letters to church history. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">3) A third application is that any church you might visit today, in some way and to a certain degree, you can identify them as being one (or more) of these seven.<br />You can also apply the characteristics of one or more of these seven churches to your own walk with the LORD, along with other Christians, as well.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Some churches and individual Christians are as busy in ministry and as discerning as was the church of Ephesus. Others have begun well, but have deteriorated later as did Thyatira. Some seem to go through a lot of hardships, sufferings and trials as did Smyrna, and so on.<br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">A RECURRING PATTERN of SEVEN:<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">In REVELATION, Chapters 2 and 3 we have listed <u><i>seven</i>churches</u> that John the apostle is instructed to write letters to (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 1:11</span></b>), these letters are dictated to him by none other than the LORD Jesus Christ – no surprise there, since it’s the very Spirit of God that inspired <i>all</i>of the writers of the Bible (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 PET 1:21</span></b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">In the Gospels, the LORD Jesus gave many parables, and a certain number of these were specifically regarding “the kingdom of heaven” – how many of these <i>kingdom parables</i>did Jesus give? <i><u>Seven</u>!</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Paul the apostle was commissioned by Christ to be an apostle to the Gentiles – and how many churches did Paul write to? If you do the math, you will find that in all his epistles (if you <u>don't count Hebrews</u>, though I believe it was written by Paul, it is <i>anonymous because it's unsigned</i>), he wrote to . . .&nbsp; <u><i>seven</i>churches</u>! Coincidence? “Coincidence is NOT a kosher word!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">For more on the numerical patterns found in REVELATION, visit <a href="http://godscharacter.com/bible-study/revelation/revelation-articles/numerical-patterns-in-revelation/">this link</a>:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">For a comparison between these letters in REVELATION, to the epistles of Paul and the Kingdom parables as found in the GOSPELS, consider the following:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">1) Ephesus</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> (“desirable, or darling<b><span style="color: #cc0000;">*</span></b>, one who is greatly beloved” <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 2:1-7</span></b>) – <i>Apostolic church</i> – busy about exposing false apostles teaching lies – Paul warns the elders of the church of Ephesus about wolves (false teachers) in <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ACTS 20:17, 29-30</span></b>.<br /><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">*</span></b>- <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">PSALM 22:20; 35:17</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Parable of the Sower</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> parallel: <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 13:3-23</span></b>. The fowls of the air that steal away the seed, the Word of God. Thorns and thistles that choke out the Word. Stony, hardened hearts that will not be penetrated by the Word – all dangers that the Ephesus church stood guard against.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />*Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">2) Smyrna</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> (“myrrh” for anointing the dead; <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 2:8-11</span></b>) – <i>Suffering church</i> – persecuted by Ancient Pagan Rome that martyred Christians by the tens of thousands. Contrast between the saints at Pergamos who receive no correction from the LORD, and the synagogue of Satan (“who say they are Jews, and are not”).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Parable of the wheat and the tares</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> parallel: <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 13:24-30, 36-43</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">*Paul’s epistle to the Philippians (“joy through suffering”).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">3) Pergamos</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> (“elevated by marriage” <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 2:12-17</span></b>) – The <i>perverted church</i> began when it was ‘married’ to the state; persecution and suffering ended, and instead of being salt and light, affecting the world for Christ, the church was affected by the world, elevated, esteemed, befriended by the world and then the church was corrupted by the world.<br /><br /><i>Parable of the mustard seed</i> parallel: <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 13:31-32</span></b>. Fowls of the air, demonic presence, in the church.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">*Paul’s epistles to the Corinthians (the carnal church).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">4) Thyatira</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> (“perpetual sacrifice” <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 2:18-29</span></b>) – the <i>church of the Middle Ages</i>; the eucharistic rite signifying in Roman Catholic dogma, the perpetual sacrifice of Christ on the cross. <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 2:20</span></b> – Jezebel – leading others into idolatry (spiritual fornication); the worship of the Catholic saints (idols). Admonition to repent – only church promised “great tribulation”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Parable of the leaven</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> parallel: <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 13:33; LUKE 13:21-30</span></b>. Leaven of false teaching and doctrines.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">*Paul’s epistle to the Galatians (calling out from religious externalism; <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">GAL 5:9</span></b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">5) Sardis</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> (sardius stone – deep red color; significant of the atonement, salvation by grace and faith in Christ; <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 3:1-6</span></b>) – <i>The Reformation church</i> – no praise mentioned by the LORD for this church, though He commends a few that remain faithful.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Parable of the treasure in the field</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> parallel – <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 13:44</span></b>. The entire field was purchased, so that the treasure found in it could be claimed. So also among many of the denominational&nbsp; churches are dead, but within, there are a few that the LORD can claim as His own.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">*Paul’s epistle to the Romans (salvation by faith alone; the cry of the Reformation).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">6) Philadelphia</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> (“brotherly love” <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 3:7-13</span></b>) – <i>The fundamentalist church</i>. The early to late 19<sup>th</sup> century; no criticism of this church; they have a strength, even if it is just “a little strength” – and they have “not denied [His] name”. They are promised to be spared “from the hour of temptation which will try all those upon the world” the seven-year time of the tribulation; they are also promised an open door that no one can shut – a way of escape (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">LUKE 21:36</span></b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Parable of the pearl of great price</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> parallel – <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 13:44</span></b>. Pearls are the product of a living organism, that steady grows over time, as a result of extreme irritation inside the oyster (from a bit of sand or grit), and is later removed from its temporary dwelling to later become an adornment in beautifying a bride. A wonderful type of the bride of Christ, the church that thrives during persecution and becomes Christ-like through suffering.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">*Paul’s epistles to the Thessalonians (the rapture of the church, the second coming of Christ).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">7) Laodicea</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> (“rule of the people” <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 3:14-19</span></b>); <i>the apostate church of the last days</i>; from the late 19<sup>th</sup> century to present time. No praise or commendation given. Admonition to repent; offering of salve for blindness; gold for poverty, white raiment for nakedness – this church is loved by, though not loving to the LORD, even as He chastens them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Parable of the net</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> parallel – <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 13:47-50</span></b>. Just as the fish are divided, so likewise the LORD divides those who are lukewarm from those that He appeals to personally – and stands at the door of their hearts, knocking, desiring fellowship.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">*Paul’s epistle to the Colossians (who were told to exchange letters with Laodicea).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]--><b><u><o:p></o:p></u></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS from CHAPTER ONE:</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></u></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Before we examine each of these seven, let’s touch on a few points from Chapter One:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">This is not the book of Revelation<b><i><u>s</u></i></b> – but REVELATION: OF Who? Jesus Christ! It was a revelation given TO Jesus as well, given to Him by Who? God the Father (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 1:1</span></b>)!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">It is a book that reveals the summation of God’s plan for the ages through Christ, Who is Himself the very heart of prophecy (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 19:10</span></b>). The very term <i>apocalypsos</i> (an alternate name for this book, the APOCALYPSE of JESUS CHRIST) means to make known, to reveal – not to enshroud and protect a mystery from being discovered.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br />This is a book that is <i>meant to be read, and understood</i> – and those that do so, receive <i>a very special blessing</i>, above the blessing of reading any portion of God’s Word (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 1:3</span></b>). The reason that too many find this book mysteriously unfathomable is because much of what is recorded here, is explained elsewhere in the Scriptures, predominantly in the Old Testament – which too many ignore these days.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">These seven churches were located near the western border of Asia (Minor), a province in the Roman Empire that is modern day Turkey.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br />~ We see the mission of Christ’s redemption of our souls fulfilled by the atonement of His blood (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 1:5</span></b>)&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br />~ Our future destiny as rulers and priests in God’s coming kingdom (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 1:6</span></b>).&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br />~ There is a herald of Christ’s Second Coming (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 1:7</span></b>) as well as the declaration of Christ’s Deity (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 1:8</span></b>)&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br />~ His authority as the Head of the church (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 1:11,16</span></b>) and the pronouncement of His victorious resurrection (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 1:17-18</span></b>).</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br />~ The candlesticks are representative of the church, and their testimony to the world as the light of the world (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 1:20; MATT 5:14</span></b>). The stars represent the seven “angels” of the seven churches. I believe these are the actual pastors, who are messengers of God, declaring His Word and will to the people – a ministry often performed by angels themselves (consider <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">DAN 12:3</span></b>).</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">So ends this introduction! Next we shall take the first church that the LORD addresses among the seven: Ephesus. May the LORD bless us as we continue steadfastly in the Word, and by the Spirit of grace, yield to Him to live holy lives and thus bring honor to our Father!<br /><br />KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE SKIES, AND DON'T BELIEVE THE LIES: JESUS CHRIST RETURNS SOON FROM ON HIGH!</span><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-42815817294847462722017-08-28T15:54:00.000-07:002017-08-28T15:54:53.344-07:00The SCRIPTURAL STAIRWAY To HEAVEN: The BEATITUDES as found in MATTHEW 5 - PARTS 1 & 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ptornelson.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/escalera-al-cielo21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="724" height="371" src="https://ptornelson.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/escalera-al-cielo21.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The following is a revision and summary presentation of two articles in the <i>TTUF</i> study of MATTHEW CHAPTER 5 (to read the full study in Ch 5, go <a href="http://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2013/08/the-gospel-according-to-matthew-ch-5.html">here</a>). This article itself is divided into two parts for your convenience, in bookmarking it once you complete the first half.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><u>~ ~ ~ ~ PART ONE ~ ~ ~ ~</u></b></span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">What does the word ‘beatitude’ actually mean, have you ever wondered? One rendering says, “<i>To be supremely blessed, consecrated, and holy, in a state of bliss</i>”.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Those who follow the truth as expressed by the LORD in this chapter will certainly know (even if they don’t understand) this bliss and peace; yet there must be no mistake: in order to follow the Truth Incarnate, His Spirit must be the one to empower and enable them by indwelling their person!&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Christianity is not, <i>and cannot</i> (successfully) be a mere philosophy or a set of principles for ‘moral man’ to abide by. The one statement alone, made by our LORD should put an end to any such endeavor: <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 5:48</span></b>!&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Christianity is “Christ in us, the hope of glory” (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">COL 1:27; 2 COR 4:6-8</span></b>)!&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Certainly the principles laid out by the LORD here are absolutely contrary to the philosophy of this world (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 COR 2:13</span></b>) which is ruled by Satan, and</span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">&nbsp;is why <a href="http://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2015/08/how-darkness-flees-from-light-of-god.html"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>the kingdom of God and Light</b></span></a> is diametrically opposed to the world’s view (and why the true church that lives by the Spirit of God is so hated by those of the world):</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>JOHN 3:18-20</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved</b></span>.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">In these chapters, the King of Israel is laying down the holy law that applies in His kingdom, specifically in the case of Matthew’s account, the kingdom as it pertains to Israel and the <a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/Davidic-covenant.html"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>Davidic covenant</b></span></a>. This perspective will aid us in understanding many of the verses recorded in this section (Ch’s. 5–7).</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Dr. Scofield<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"> <a href="http://biblehub.com/commentaries/sco/matthew/5.htm"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>comments</b></span></a></span>:</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">“The Sermon on the Mount has a twofold application:</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">“<i>(1) Literally to the kingdom: In this sense it gives the divine constitution for the righteous government of the earth. Whenever the kingdom of heaven is established on earth it will be according to that constitution, which may be regarded as an explanation of the word ‘righteousness’ as used by the prophets in describing the kingdom (e.g.) <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ISAIAH 11:4-5; 32:1</span></b>; <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">DAN 9:24</span></b>. In this sense the Sermon on the Mount is pure law, and transfers the offence from the overt act to the motive: <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 5:21-22, 27-28</span></b>.<br /></i></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i>“Here lies the deeper reason why the Jews rejected the kingdom. They had reduced ‘righteousness’ to mere ceremonialism, and the Old Testament idea of the kingdom to a mere affair of outward splendor and power. They were never rebuked for expecting a visible and powerful kingdom, but the words of the prophets should have prepared them to expect also that only the poor in spirit and the meek could share in it (e.g.) <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ISAIAH 11:4</span></b>. [<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">PSALM 72</span></b> speaks of that] . . . which was universally received by them as a description of the kingdom . . . For these reasons, the Sermon on the Mount in its <u>primary application</u> gives neither the privilege nor the duty of the Church. These are found in the Epistles. Under the law of the kingdom, for example, no one may hope for forgiveness who has not first forgiven, <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 6:12,14-15</span></b>. Under grace the Christian is exhorted to forgive because he is already forgiven, <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">EPH 4:30-32</span></b></i>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">“(2) <i><u>But there is a beautiful moral application to the Christian</u>. It always remains true that the poor in spirit, rather than the proud, are blessed, and those who mourn because of their sins, and who are meek in the consciousness of them, will hunger and thirst after righteousness, and hungering, will be filled. The merciful are ‘blessed’, the pure in heart do ‘see God’. These principles fundamentally reappear in the teaching of the Epistles</i>.”</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Let’s come before the LORD Jesus as He takes His seat and teaches us in this sermon . . . on the mount.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>MATTHEW 5:1-2</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying</span></b>,</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The LORD sees with His holy eyes, two groups of people here: the multitude, and <i>His disciples</i>. As He ascended a mountain (a mountain is often symbolic in Scripture for a kingdom, and in this case, representative of the kingdom of heaven; see <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">DAN 2:35,44-45</span></b>) He sat down, and His disciples came to Him and He taught them – that is, His disciples who looked for the kingdom of heaven to be established (this was in a very profound sense, a ‘<i>pre-church</i>’ time period!).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">In today’s church one can hardly find the preaching of the unadulterated Gospel of Jesus Christ, with the essentials of repentance, surrendering one’s life wholly, continually to the LORD, and living the crucified life of self-denial – so that Christ may be manifest more fully in us and receive the glory (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">GAL 2:20</span></b>); this aspect of Christianity – the life of the Cross is what discipleship is all about!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>MATTHEW 16:24-25</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">For an excellent book on <u><a href="https://thebereancall.com/products/true-discipleship"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>True Discipleship</b></span></a></u>, may I recommend William MacDonald’s work.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The other aspect of true discipleship is that we shall have such a love for one another as saints of God, that the quality of such will be indistinguishable from the very love of Christ for us (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 13:34-35</span></b>), because it’s the same love as by the Spirit of God in us! Astonishing!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Paul Washer talks about true discipleship in a video, <u><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQUfOgj5ZA8&amp;t=33s"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>here</b></span></a></u> (1 hr 15 mins 20 secs).&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Here begins the Sermon on the Mount and our LORD teaches what is called the Beatitudes. As followers of Jesus what should be ‘our attitude’ in life and our daily conduct?&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The greatest in the kingdom would be the one that fulfills the spiritual truths of these verses in their lives in the greatest capacity. None fulfills them better than the LORD Jesus Himself (<i>even verses 3 and 4?</i> I will address this a bit later) – He is the standard, the measure of true holiness by which any that would claim to be holy should look to for comparison.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The verses following are excellent as a kind of ‘spiritual barometer’ to determine where we are in the level of maturity we have (or not) in the LORD. Other such passages are <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 COR 13:1-8</span></b> and <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">GAL 5:22-23</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Every stairway is comprised of steps, and if we would get to the upper room, we need to begin by taking the first and lowest step. We cannot leap to the middle of the stairway, or strive to reach the highest step first. We must reach the top by taking that lowest step first - and in this sermon by the LORD, on the mount, He relates these steps for us, beginning at the lowliest and most humbling place: this is the <u><i>real and&nbsp;scriptural</i></u> stairway to heaven!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>MATTHEW 5:3-4</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">How blessed to overflowing are those who are poor in spirit – does this sound like a contradiction to you? One would suppose the LORD would have said, “Blessed are those who are rich in spirit . . .” but this is not the case.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Exactly who would qualify as being “poor in spirit” and what does this mean exactly?</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><a href="https://discovertheword.org/2011/01/20/what-does-the-concept-poor-in-spirit-really-mean/"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>Spiritual impoverishment</b></span></a> is something that all of humanity suffers from because spiritual wealth – holiness, purity, beauty, truth, peace, grace, wisdom and knowledge (and so very much more) are all <i>held in the treasure houses that is God’s own heart!</i>&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">But as sinners, sold under sin, in bondage to sin, we are separated from God (and all of the spiritual wealth inherent in His being), we are such poor and beggarly creatures that not only are deficient of such blessedness and riches, but also have the very perverted perception that ‘true riches’ are all about sin and sinful lusts and practices (that old ‘<i>sex and drugs and rock n roll</i>’ or even the devilish idea that ‘<i>it’s MY life and I will live it as I see fit, and if God doesn’t like it, TOO BAD!</i>’).</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">How then can we who are in such a deplorable condition ever think to be “blessed”? The LORD said of such that “. . . theirs is the kingdom of heaven”!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Of course, it’s those who come to the realization, by the conviction of the Holy Spirit (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 16:7-11</span></b>) that they are in such a state. In life, knowing and admitting that one has a problem is the first step in getting it solved.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">If we humble ourselves by admitting the truth, by such a confession of our guilt, and with genuine repentance the LORD will honor such and respond (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">LUKE 18:9-14; JAMES 4:9-10; 1 PETER 5:4-6</span></b>).&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Conversely, the religious who are sure of their supposed right standing before God, those who are rich in themselves and not of God, those who by pride in their religious accomplishments and deeds – these are those who will never share in the kingdom of heaven (See <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">LUKE 18:10-14</span></b> for an example of both kinds of people, the humbly repentant and the arrogantly self-righteous). The LORD will address this religious pride later on in this sermon.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">This leads us to the second verse in our study – “blessed are they that mourn . . .”</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">This mourning is not merely regret or ‘feeling bad’ about wrongs committed by ourselves. This sort of grief is far deeper than that. The Greek word <i>pentheo</i> describes the kind of "<i>passionate grieving associated with the death of a loved one, or the destruction of one’s homeland</i>".</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">It is a grief that encompasses the entire being until the entire consciousness is consumed by such. It is not emotionalism – that would entail the idea that we are made sorry by an appeal to our emotions via the soul (the seat of our emotions) rather than an appeal to the truth of God’s Word convicting our hearts (the central and essential being of who we are).</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Such mourning over our sin – for the extreme offense it causes the Holy God Who created us, and for the spiritual poverty and death it has wreaked in our lives – is what this passage is addressing (See also <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 COR 7:9-10</span></b>).</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">As the model and holy standard for these beatitudes, the One Who alone was able to claim to fulfill the Law; <i>how would the LORD be described as someone who is spiritually poor and in need to mourn for such?<br /></i></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">While the LORD Jesus would not Himself have any spiritual poverty of His own, and thus no need to mourn for such a non-existent deficiency, He is <a href="http://www.asermon.com/books/spurgeon-tilhecome-sin-bearer.html"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>our sin bearer</b></span></a> and <a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-mediator.html"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>mediator</b></span></a> – thus for our own sake, He <i>became</i> poor (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 COR 8:9</span></b>) and a Man of sorrows (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ISAIAH 53:3</span></b>).&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">For such sinners then as we, who express this brand of deep, genuine, whole-hearted repentance in acknowledging their sin and seeking for God’s forgiveness, these shall “be comforted” that is, they shall “called near, invited, invoked by imploration, . . . to beseech, comfort, exhort; to call to one’s aid”. I am reminded of the LORD’s own words:</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>MATT. 11:28-29</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls</span></b> (see also <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 7:37-38</span></b>).</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">To comfort those who mourn is specifically a Messianic mission as spoken of in <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ISAIAH 51:3, 11-12; 61:2-3</span></b>.&nbsp;</span><br /> <span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Such ministry was to be a part of the rule of the Messiah in Israel, and such would have been the case had the Messiah been received two thousand years ago; but because He was rejected nationally, such ministry is postponed <i>until later</i> (at the Second Advent) when the LORD Jesus will inaugurate His reign alongside of His Gentile bride (the church; <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 16:18</span></b>).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">In the meanwhile, the ministry of the LORD involves comforting those who mourn for their sins and bringing assurance to those who have humbled themselves before Him in a spirit of meekness, that such will inherit the earth!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>MATTHEW 5:5</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Satan took away the stewardship of the earth from Adam who lost it when he fell into sin, and thus subjugated himself and the human race under the enemy’s power. Those of this world are ever seeking power and <i>ruler-ship</i> in this world over cities, districts, regions and nations, and now a global oligarchy is assuming power over the entire planet.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Each of these have used power to take what they would (<a href="http://www.equip.org/article/awakening-from-the-nightmare/"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>Nietzsche’s own philosophy of “the will to power</b></span>”</a>) without any appeal to a higher authority to bequeath such, but seizing upon it for themselves and their own selfish agendas.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Suppose you were the son of David Rockefeller or one of the Rothschild’s – imagine the sort of inheritance you would come into upon their death as their Last Will and Testament was read! Yet as the result of the New Testament (or Covenant; see <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JER 31:31; HEB 8:8</span></b>) we have a far, far greater inheritance (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROM 8:17; COL 1:12</span></b>) than the mere pittance acquired from the aforementioned trillionaires!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The Maker of heaven and earth will simply deliver this world into the hands of . . . the powerful? The proud? The arrogant? The selfish? Those that deem themselves gods? No – but to the meek (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">PSALM 37:11</span></b>). Again, observe how diametrically opposed God’s ways are to the ways of this Satan-inspired world! <i>How grateful I am that they are!&nbsp;</i></span><br /><b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><u><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epVLEHyN81E"><b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Meekness is not weakness</span></b></a></u> by any means! In the Greek it refers to: “mildness of disposition, gentleness of spirit, meekness." It means "to be ruled by God".</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">“<i>Meekness toward God is that disposition of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting. In the OT, the meek are those wholly relying on God rather than their own strength to defend them against injustice. Thus, meekness toward evil people means knowing God is permitting the injuries they inflict, that He is using them to purify His elect, and that He will deliver His elect in His time (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ISAIAH 41:17</span></b>)</i>.” <br />~ Quote from <i>Scofield’s Commentary on Matthew</i>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The Messiah, the majestic God Incarnate, Who spoke all of creation into existence with only His spoken Word (thus demonstrating only one aspect of His omnipotence) could have wiped the universe out with another spoken Word when the Roman soldiers scourged the flesh from His bones, plated that crown of thorns on His Holy Head, and nailed Him to that rough hewn and blood stained cross – but <i>He endured those things with meekness</i>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Great power under total control is part of this meekness; another is absolute surrender to God, leaving our own lives in His capable hands and looking to Him to address wrongs done to us, injustices suffered by us, sufferings endured and dire circumstances placed upon us and doing nothing to defend or save ourselves from such things that are entirely out of our hands any way. The LORD Jesus modeled this for us perfectly!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">As the meekest Man in all the world (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 11:29</span></b>), the LORD Jesus shall inherit all the domains of creation as KING of Kings and LORD of Lords – and we shall partake of such at the grace of our LORD as we exhibit this quality of meekness. In such meekness, there is a rest from strife, from self-preservation, and burdens to ‘fend for ourselves’.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>MATTHEW 5:6</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Previously I wrote an exhortation <i>FROM the MIND of FIRE</i> entitled <u><a href="http://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-passionate-thirst-for-god_10.html"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>A Passionate Thirst for God</b></span></a></u>; please feel free to check this out as we continue in this study of The Beatitudes in Matthew’s Gospel.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Since much has been stated already in the FMF article above, let me simply say this (as I have quite often before): In a world of empty, sinful mirages, amidst the barren bleak deserts of parched souls – there is an O.A.S.I.S. Only the Almighty Savior Immanuel Satisfies.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><u>We are not merely physical beings</u>; otherwise physical things would satisfy us – but they don’t ultimately. <br /><u>We are not merely mental or emotional beings</u>; otherwise intellectual and experiential things would satisfy us – but ultimately, neither do these satisfy us (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">PROV 14:14</span></b>).&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><u>We are spiritual beings</u>: beings who because of sin are suffering from broken, ruined spirits that are incapable of anything at all in regards to responding to and receiving the LORD.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i>If you are thirsting and hungering in life, if you find that there is ‘something missing’ (despite the fact that we have tried everything this world has to offer) but the answer proves elusive, know that it’s because you are at heart a spiritual being, and nothing can ever satisfy you except the spiritual, and such spiritual satisfaction can only be acquired through the One Who created your spirit – the LORD Jesus Christ</i>:</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>JOHN 4:13-14</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this </b>[physical]<b style="color: #3d85c6;"> water shall thirst again:</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">14 But whosoever drinketh of the [spiritual] water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><u>~ ~ ~ ~ PART TWO ~ ~ ~ ~&nbsp;</u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">So far we have observed <i>these spiritual steps</i>: that (1) the poor in spirit will mourn over their condition, and as a result of (2) being comforted, they are grateful, worshipful and (3) full of meekness to the LORD Who has saved them. As a result of this comfort and salvation we find that we are no longer thirsty or hungry for the things of this world – but only such appetites that find satisfaction in the LORD Jesus the Righteous, the Bread of Life Himself is what (4) we hunger and thirst for more of!&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">See <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ISAIAH 61:3</span></b> and <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 COR 9:10</span></b> to observe trees and their fruit of righteousness.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">God’s desire is that His righteousness would ‘branch out’ (<i><u>every</u></i> pun intended!) into all aspects of our lives!&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The blessed benefits of the righteousness of Christ in our lives as seen in: <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 TIM 4:8; JAMES 5:16; 1 PET 3:12; 1 JOHN 2:1,29</span></b></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>MATTHEW 5:7</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy</span></b>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Those of us who have received the grace, mercy and peace from the LORD Jesus Christ have our lives so transformed, that we become a merciful people, people of tender mercies and loving kindness – <i>even to our enemies</i>, having the very character of Christ working in our hearts to fulfill all of His will for us, and through us! In sowing such mercies, we reap more mercy in abundance.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">See <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 SAM 22:26; PSALM 41:1-3; 112:4-9; ISAIAH 58:9-11; MATT 5:44</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Remember that <u>justice</u> is getting what you <u>deserve</u>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><u>Mercy</u> is the opposite of justice: it’s <u>not getting what you&nbsp;deserve</u>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">And <u>grace</u> is getting something that you <u>don’t deserve</u>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The unrepentant sinner will receive God’s justice on <a href="http://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2010/06/christs-court-soon-in-session-part-1.html"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>Judgment Day</b></span></a>, and will perish forever in hell! Justice.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The repentant sinner will be spared from God’s justice and will not perish in hell! Mercy.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The repentant sinner will not only receive the mercy of God, but also the grace of God, both via the LORD Jesus Christ – and be blessed by an eternity in heaven as the LORD’s gift of salvation; salvation from hell and for heaven!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Having received this mercy from God, and the Spirit that is working in us along with the Word of God, the ministry of sanctification is operative in our lives – working out the things of the old man, and instilling in our minds that which conforms us to the image of Christ in the new man (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">EPH 4:22-24</span></b>).</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">We become purer of mind just as we have been made pure of heart (having that “new heart” as a result of our spiritual rebirth; <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 3:3-5; 1 PETER 1:23; EZEK 18:31; 36:26</span></b>).</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>MATTHEW 5:8</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">No one can see God and live according to <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">EXOD 33:20</span></b>. In our natural state, such a visitation would prove our undoing.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Our Father dwells in heaven (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 6:9</span></b>) and only those who are pure in heart will see Him in the Kingdom that the saints shall inherit; thus the need for the spiritual rebirth, without which no one will enter or even see it!&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">This perfection (of purity) is something so entirely alien to our humanity, though mankind strives to obtain it for himself by education, philosophy and esoteric knowledge, by medical and nutritional technology, through exercise; through the obtaining of monetary wealth and power, and what not.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">He is destined for failure in as much as he himself <i>is a failure</i> – a ruination of sin and all the destructive influences contained therein. Were God to enforce the Law that demands such perfection, aside from any aid or intervention on His own part, we would be utterly hopeless to ever see God in His glory.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Therefore God determined by His foreknowledge of all that would transpire from that point of transgression at the tree of knowledge of good and evil that by grace we would be saved (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 TIM 1:9; TITUS 3:5-7; EPH 2:8-9</span></b>), and not of works – because no one can in fact, boast of their accomplishments which are absolutely void of any element of goodness and holiness.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">We will never know complete purity experientially while on this Earth, but one day we shall be complete in Christ when we see Him (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 JOHN 3:2</span></b>) and on that day, we shall experience for the first time in our lives that complete and entire purity that is unmatched by any other, save for the One Who’s purity has been granted to us!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">That which was impossible under the commands of the Law, are now possible by the efficacious grace of God delivered to our hearts by the LORD Jesus Christ and His blood atonement and His Spirit! <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">PSALM 24:3-4; ISAIAH 1:25-26; 1 TIM 1:5; 5:22; 1 PET 1:22; also EPH 5:27; HEB 9:22-26; JAMES 1:27; 2 PET 3:14</span></b>.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Purity of heart is not a religious drudgery but life and joy and peace in the Holy Spirit! <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROM 14:17; 15:13</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">For those who know the mercies of the LORD and that such mercies are provided in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and knowing the blessedness of the purification process performed in us by the Holy Spirit, we saints endeavor to proclaim this good news to all far and near, heralding the reconciling peace that God offers to fallen man. Thus we become peace makers.</span><br /><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">We continue now learning from the Messiah and hear the Kingdom message He declares. Once again we must recognize that <u>the Kingdom of heaven</u> is in a very real sense, a sort of <u><i>sub-set or division under the over all Kingdom of God</i></u>. In the Kingdom of heaven there are wheat and tares; there are good fish and bad, there is “the enemy” – hardly what one would think should be present in such a kingdom.&nbsp;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Yet we understand that this Earth is polluted by such things, though God is present (behind the scenes as it were) and working to accomplish His objectives which will ultimately bring the Messiah King back to this rebel planet known as Earth, ruling and reigning and ‘cleaning house’ as it were of all things that offend.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">This will become quite observable once the LORD Jesus Christ returns and commences the Kingdom given back to Israel in fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant, the veritable “kingdom of heaven” itself!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">So as we learn more of this Sermon on the Mount, let’s not forget that though these Scriptural truths are entirely applicable for learning by us saints, who are of the church, its primary focus is in fact the Kingdom of Heaven, the reign of the Messiah and Israel in her glory during the Millennial reign . . .</span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>MATTHEW 5:9</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God</span></b>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The world, for all its pretense of worship of God in the myriad of religions that span the horizons, is in actuality at war with the true God and proves their satanic origins. Religion is incapable (as is man himself) of creating a nature and a life that God would approve of. Religion at best can only reform; only the Spirit of God can transform.&nbsp;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">I love John MacArthur’s address on this issue of just “<i>Two Religions</i>”. Did you realize that in all the wide world, there really are only two religions? It’s true; have a listen to ‘Johnny Mac’ in this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bP5IHFV707k"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>short video</b></span></a> explaining the truth of just Two Religions, based on <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">GAL 6:11-16</span></b>.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">This enmity will culminate when the Beast of Revelation leads his armies into Armageddon (that is, the Valley of Megiddo, which I myself have seen twice now; perhaps the third time it will be from the heavenly mezzanine! See <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 16:12-16; 19:20-21; ISAIAH 10:28-34; 63:1-6; ZECH 12:1-14</span></b>) to destroy Israel, only to witness the intervention of the Messiah, the LORD Jesus Christ at His Second Advent. <br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i>The utterly ridiculous will then occur – the Beast and his armies will actually turn their weapons upon God. Holy incredulity will bring laughter from the lips of our LORD who will then express His derision and begins to destroy the blasphemous edifices of man’s world system</i> (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">PSALM 2:1-12; 9:6-20</span></b>).</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>JAMES 4:4</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>ROMANS 5:9-11</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>ROMANS 8:6-8</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.&nbsp;</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God</span></b>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Becoming citizens of heaven by the spiritual rebirth in Christ, we are now warriors of God that wage holy battles against Satan and his principalities and powers (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">EPH 6:10-18</span></b>). We are also ambassadors to fallen humanity, seeking for the enmity between God and man to be dealt with, and relieved, so that reconciliation and peace with God may be experienced by those who surrender themselves at the Cross (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 COR 5:18-21; HEB 2:17; ROM 5:1-2</span></b>).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">It’s a sobering thought that as God’s peacemaking ambassadors, we shall one day be removed from these hostile territories that continues unrelentingly in its war and strife against the LORD. One of the first courses of action taken when one nation declares war on another – is the removal of its ambassadors and shutting down their embassies.&nbsp;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Once we, the church of the LORD Jesus Christ depart from this world in the rapture (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 THESS 4:16-18; 1 COR 15:51-57</span></b>), God shall finally declare war on this Satanically inspired world-system that will openly defy Him by worshiping His enemy, the fallen cherub Lucifer (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ISAIAH 14; EZEK 28</span></b>) also known as Satan. <br /><br />Yet even in the midst of such terrible judgment, God will temper such with grace and an opportunity for peace and reconciliation in turning to Him for salvation (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 7:13-15</span></b>). God will commission yet more peacemakers to herald the Gospel of the Kingdom with the two witnesses and 144,000 Jewish evangelists (See <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 11:2-4; 7:1-9</span></b>)!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The peacemakers of God are the Gospel heralders of God, for it’s only by the preaching of the Gospel and believing from the heart in the LORD Jesus Christ and His atonement for our sins that peace with God can be obtained (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROM 5:1; 10:15; EPH 6:15</span></b>). However, as mentioned already, this dark world, filled with dark souls, have no desire for the Light and hate the Light as well as those who bring the Light of God to them (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 5:14; PHIL 2:15</span></b>), thus the peacemakers become the persecuted.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>MATTHEW 5:10</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven</span></b>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The LORD ends this portion of His sermon where He began it – at the kingdom of heaven; at the beginning He spoke of those who are poor in spirit, and here He speaks of the persecuted who suffer such because of righteousness.<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The righteousness of Christ imputed (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROM 4:11, 22-24</span></b>) to such who are poor in spirit, thus making them rich spiritually (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 2:9</span></b>) is something that is despised by this world because of its pride and insistence in providing their own (dead) works for salvation – the quintessential element of self-righteous religion and works of the flesh (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROM 8:7-9; GAL 2:16; 5:18-20</span></b>).&nbsp;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">I find it ironic that Christians who proclaim the Gospel of grace, and profess quite readily that they themselves are sinners who in their own right are deserving of hell (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 TIM 1:14-15</span></b>) and but for the unmerited favor of God, and having received the gift of eternal life are labeled by the world as ‘self-righteous'! <i>The very opposite is true!</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Those engaged in ritual, ceremony, works, penance, mystical exercises, and all other religious forms that demand self-effort in order to achieve by their own merit the rewards, in view of such persuasions are the truly the self-righteous ones quite simply because they look to themselves for provision of righteousness!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">In these days of increasing ecumenicism and a push towards a one world religious system, any exclusive claims made by any religion must be deleted in order to fit in to this global apostate ‘church’ and yet Christians declare that it’s only through Christ Jesus that salvation and righteousness may be obtained. This is a non-negotiable that will (and has already the world over) earned the church persecution by the hands of those who despise such grace (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">HEB 10:29</span></b>).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The LORD states that those who are persecuted are “blessed” and this truly is our inestimable estate because of the reward we shall receive for enduring such “light afflictions” patiently (See <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">HEB 11:36-40; 1 PET 2:19-21; 2 COR 4:16-18</span></b>).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">He goes on in the following verses in Matthew’s Gospel:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>MATTHEW 5:11-12</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you</span></b>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">We know that the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our LORD (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROM 6:23</span></b>), and that gifts are different than rewards obviously. Gifts are freely given at no charge to the recipient, but rewards are based upon merit.<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">While all saints will be granted access to heaven by grace and receive the blessedness inherent in that glorious place, not all saints will receive equitable levels of rewards but such will be based on how faithful we’ve been in conduct, in service, in the very worship of God by self-sacrificing our lives for the furtherance of the kingdom of God as well as dying to self that Christ may be glorified in us (See <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 COR 3:6-15; DAN 12:3; MATT 10:42; 25:23; LUKE 6:35; ROM 2:10; EPH 6:8; 2 TIM 2:12</span></b>; also see various crowns earned for faithfulness: <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 COR 9:25; 2 TIM 4:8; JAMES 1:12; 1 PET 5:4; REV 3:11</span></b>).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">It’s imperative to understand however, that any rewards we are given for any service done, any suffering endured, any stand for righteousness we may exercise is to bring glory to the LORD and not ourselves, because it’s only by the Spirit of the LORD we accomplish these things. His divine love shall motivate and enable us to work such exploits for God!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br />Even in the giving of rewards there is a considerable measure of grace, for without the grace of God operating in yielded hearts intent on obedience to the LORD (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 COR 15:10; HEB 4:16</span></b>), such works would prove impossible for us creatures made of dust.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>1 COR. 13:1-3</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>REV. 4:9-11</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created</span></b>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Please note that for the cause of Christ in suffering persecution, our LORD states that we will receive, not merely “reward” but “<i>great</i> reward” comparable to the prophets of old, like Isaiah (who was sawed in half for his holy testimony to the truth) and all the others who were likewise persecuted, even slain for righteousness sake!&nbsp;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The “evil speaking” against us that accompanies persecution should be false of course; as false as the witnesses against our LORD who couldn’t even agree among themselves what exactly He supposedly did that was sin (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MARK 14:55-56</span></b>). The LORD challenged His enemies to point out any sins He committed that could be used against Him (<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>JOHN 8:46</b></span>), but they couldn’t name a single sin or fault – I wonder what <i>my enemies</i> could say about my own testimony for the LORD?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Finally its been said by many, especially by those here in America who observe such worldliness and carnality in the church, that we need some persecution to purge out these heinous things and be purified.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The sentiment is well received by yours truly and I know what those who say such things mean by them, but persecution in itself does not and can not purify. People of opposing religions have persecuted each other for centuries and this has done nothing to purify and make holy and clean such religious adherents.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Some believe that before the LORD can return, the church must be so purified so that she will be presentable to Him. Yet, it’s the blood of Jesus Christ, shed for the remission of our sins and that bestows the garments of salvation that makes us presentable, not suffering or suffering persecution (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 19:7-9; ROM 3:25</span></b>).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Persecution (and suffering in general) is but a tool which the enemy would use to destroy the saints, but it’s rather more effectively and marvelously used by the LORD for His own purposes of purifying His people (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOB 23:10; PSALM 66:10-12; ISAIAH 48:9-11; MAL 3:2-4; 1 PET 1:6-7; 4:12-14,16,19</span></b>). God alone works purification and sanctification by His Spirit, not by the deeds of sinners who persecute saints.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">What persecution does is, it allows the saint to re-focus their attention and their hearts on the LORD and away from worldly pursuits and desires that would cause lukewarmness to set in; that refocusing in the midst of such hardships like suffering persecution is what is effective in the lives of believers who become ardent and persistent in their seeking God at such times.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Thus ends this study on the Beatitudes - I pray that it has edified the saints. As stated previously, this is actually a segment from the expositional study on the Gospel of Matthew as found on <a href="http://www.thetruthunderfire.com/"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>The TRUTH Under FIRE</b></span></a>.</span></div></div><div><br /></div>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-48845605771835413552017-08-18T05:26:00.002-07:002017-08-18T05:34:20.343-07:00CLASS: “Authentic” Youth Ministry<span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="http://www.calvarymn.org/uploads/2/0/3/5/20354797/2820392_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.calvarymn.org/uploads/2/0/3/5/20354797/2820392_orig.jpg" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="298" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot;, sans-serif;">Here is yet ANOTHER post NOT written by yours truly (why is it every time I say that, I keep hearing applause??)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">This article is by Greg Reid</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.gregoryreid.com/">www.gregoryreid.com</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">I came from an unconventional background, and I lived an unconventional life and did unconventional ministry. I was an unconventional child, much to the concern of my very conventional parents. I tried to re-bury worms when it rained one day because they were coming out of the ground and I thought they would be cold. I cried for hours when I was 6 when I couldn’t find my neighbor friend, and my mom told me he had gone to Washington. She couldn’t figure out why I was so upset…till she figured out it was because I knew Washington was dead, and I thought she was trying to find a nice way to tell me what happened to my neighbor…</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">I remember my friend David had been brought in as an elder at our church and he kind of defined unconventional. He challenged “doing church as usual,” urged compassion for the less fortunate and irked people who felt inconvenienced by “problem people.” I heard about one meeting where the leadership was discussing whether to help “that family” again since they always seemed to be in need.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">David responded, “I know! Let’s just chain them to their beds so they can barely reach their food!” &nbsp;I would have loved to have seen the shocked expressions…</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">At one point one of the other elders looked at David and said, “You don’t color between the lines, do you, David?” “There’s lines?” David asked in astonishment.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">I get David. I get loops, cliffs, turnarounds, but lines? Not really.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">I am allergic to “how to” things – especially “how to” youth ministry books. They’re kids. They don’t color well between the lines either, so I figured, let’s just get ‘em to color. If we get them to do Jesus colors, the lines will come.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Some years ago, God set me in the midst of a group of some of the most unconventional kids you could imagine: “barely saved,” as some would say – still smoking, sometimes going on drinking binges, often cussing, ripped jeans, pierced, tattooed and earringed, kids who often went home to abusive parents, occult families or just the streets. I wasn’t prepared for them – but I was completely prepared – to try to steer the &nbsp;Jesus bus in the chaos and pain and crazy lives of my young passengers. I understood their hurt – the abuse, rejection, loneliness, crushing sin addictions. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">What I didn’t know was, how do I act around them? How should I talk, dress, behave? Do I become super-parent, taskmaster, schoolteacher or buddy, pal, “one of them?”</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">When in doubt, ask.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">“So what’s the best advice that you can give me?” I asked one of our guys that was most honest and understood my heart. &nbsp;He said, “Don’t blow your class.” I understood immediately. At that time, I was 33. I wasn’t 15 or 18. Or 40. Or 80 or whatever. I could look or act old or like a child but I was still 33.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Recently, we endured what I call the “Rob Bell glasses phenomena.”&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>Note to readers from James - watch this video:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>Rob Bell-Beware of this false teacher!</b></span></div><b><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"></span></b><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>Video (15:08 min) by Todd Friel of <i>Wretched</i></b></span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/43JotODX-PA/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/43JotODX-PA?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Rob Bell, the author and later off-the-reservation theological pariah, wrote a millennial-appealing book and did some DVD’s and soon became the de facto role model for a whole new generation of young youth pastors in the early part of the millenium. Soon, everyone was buying Rob Bell glasses, dressing neo-preppie college cool, speaking in short sentences punctuated with angst and profundity followed by long pauses, waiting for the heavy truth to wow the crowd. Short, round bar table to replace the dreaded and outdated pulpit,…iPad and/or MacBook replacing the Bible, which was found on the iPhone app… These guys were plugged in, wired up and ready to go…nowhere…which is where Bell went before plunging off of Heretic Cliff. It was all questions, relevance, the hip du jour trends…and eventually became Emergent Soup, leaving a lot of pretty sincere young youth leaders embarrassed by Bell’s betrayal and having to “rethink” coolness as calling and connecting. All of it was, in the end, &nbsp;simply the sound of fashion, signifying nothing…</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">And I think we all go through this stage when we’re younger as we’re trying to find our identity. But really…seeing 70-year-old evangelists with a ‘fro…no.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The Impact of our ministry to youth is not the clothes we wear or the hipness we try to exude. It’s in the depth of our message and the realness of our love and care. If “imitating culture” was the trick, John the Baptist was a total failure. Wearing camel hair and chomping on locusts – definitely uncool.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">On the other hand, we don’t want to alienate the culture either. &nbsp;Missionary Amy Carmichael did the unprecedented when she began to wear the traditional woman’s Sari dress so as to better fit with the people she longed to reach for Jesus. western dress had tagged her as an imperialist privileged person. Wearing a Sari said, “I do care not to offend you. I do want to identify with you..”</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">It’s hard to find the balance. I think it is partly in Paul’s “I am all things to all men, that I might by all means save some,” (<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>1 COR 9:22</b></span>) and “whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 COR 10:31</span></b>). &nbsp; It’s not to impress. It’s not to be cool. It’s not to be something else. It’s to do what God wants.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">And that’s almost always just about matters of the heart. If you’re insecure, you might tend to act and dress to impress. If you were the uncool kid, you might act and dress to PROVE you’re cool. I pray God gives you the grace to avoid all of these things. Just be who God made you to be!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Here’s one key: Paul said, “By the grace of God, I am what I am.” Simple, isn’t it? There’s no trying, no struggle, no regrets and no one-upmanship. I am just who He made me to be. Be imitators of Christ, not of the world, not of the culture, not of the newest hip worship leaders or motivational “preacher.” Be who God made YOU to be.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">I don’t know who said it, but I’ve taught it to many, many of my youth over the years (if it’s you, let me know and I will credit you, because it’s just so great!) but here’s the best bit of advice I’ve ever heard on this: &nbsp;“Be who you is, because if you ain’t who you is, you is who you ain’t.”</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">A</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">s youth pastors, you may be expected to dress up for church events: when you preach, when it’s a special event like Christmas or Easter. Don’t shoot yourself in the foot by showing up in ripped jeans and an old Iron Maiden t-shirt. “But I’m not a coat and tie guy!” You’re missing the point. You are all things to all people so you can by all means save some. Even church folks. Get it? It’s not about dress. It’s about the heart. You showing up in radical youth clothes on Sunday is a message: “ I don’t care what you think.” That’s a pretty good way to cut short your stay as a youth pastor.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Tattoos aren’t a great way to “relate” either. I know everyone is getting them. And I will leave the debate about whether it is scripturally allowed or not for another day. I do have a couple of thoughts, though. One, remember that when you get older, everything shrivels and sags and colors fade, and your radically awesome angel will eventually resemble a chunky midlife hippie with receding hair and mysterious lesions on his face…</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">And if you are getting it to impress others with your coolness, why? And if you’re getting it to impress kids in your youth group with your coolness, how does that model Jesus, bring them closer to Him? How does it model separation from the world? Just a thought for those honest enough to ask themselves these questions. Simply put, what is your real motive?</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">So how do you dress and still be yourself? Well…dress like you dress, unless (1) It’s offensive or (2) You’re asked to dress otherwise. Other than that, my best counsel is this: dress to minimize attention to YOURSELF. Don’t let anything distract from the message of Jesus. You’re a vessel for the glory, don’t TAKE the glory. It’s ok to look nice, or fun, even hip, but don’t dress to impress. Dress to decrease so He might increase. That means not being decked out in Armani everything and Ft Knox gold hangings that get more comments than whether your message changed anybody. And don’t dress like a slob either. It’s not grungy or classy that counts but what is in your heart’s motives, and whether you are working to become the backdrop to the real star of the show – Jesus.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">In the end, kids won’t remember your cool tattoo much. (Unless if was a cheaply done lion head that now resembles a leaf…) They will remember some of your messages, many of your out of the pulpit words, some simple but profound words from God, but mostly, whether you really loved them, and were there for them in that crucial and painful time called adolescence. But most importantly, your prayer should be that they will remember Jesus.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Be who you is – uniquely, warts-and-all you – and avoid the traps of dressing or talking or acting like a kid to impress them with how well you can “relate.” They will see right through it. They’re not looking for someone LIKE them to party with them, but someone different from them to LEAD them.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Don’t stoop to the world to find tricks to impress or clothes to draw attention to yourself. Help youth step up to the kingdom world where it’s not what you wear, but who you are in Jesus that is all that matters.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Don’t blow your class.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Gregory Reid</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">www.gregoryreid.com</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">For more on youth ministry according to Greg Reid, check out this article as well:</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.gregoryreid.com/youth-pastor-or-youth-director/">YOUTH PASTOR or YOUTH DIRECTOR?</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Another note from James, for more about this, check out this article regarding who you are in Christ, your spiritual I.D. as it were:</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><a href="http://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/search?q=Identity">IDENTITY INDELIBLY in CHRIST</a></span>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-25693197874398725942017-08-05T10:30:00.000-07:002017-08-05T10:30:20.619-07:00JEWELS From The GOSPEL Of JOHN: JESUS KNOWS ALL - JOHN 4:16-19<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://christophercrandolph.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/gospelofjohn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="427" height="280" src="https://christophercrandolph.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/gospelofjohn.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>JOHN 4:16-19<br />16 Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The LORD Jesus is having a dialogue with the Samaritan woman. Thus far, He has asked her for a drink and she has become somewhat contentious, asking why He, a Jew, would have anything to do with her, a Samaritan - to say nothing of the social barriers that were in place between men and women.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He then mentions this "living water" that He offers to those who ask Him (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">vs. 10</span></b>), to those who recognize Him for Who He is. She is still thinking in the natural however, considering the advantages of such water that would enable her to never "thirst again", but nevertheless is soliciting this from the LORD (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">vs. 15</span></b>).</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It is here that He beckons her to go and get her husband. Note that: the LORD is interested not only in this woman's salvation, but also that of her supposed husband. That is the heart of the LORD. The salvation of souls, as well as the redemption of entire families as each member places faith in Christ for themselves (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ACTS 16:31</span></b>), an institution that He Himself created (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">GEN 1:22</span></b>) - and <a href="https://bible.org/seriespage/14-god-s-design-family-colossians-318-21"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">this institution</span></b></a> is being dismantled today in the politically correct methods of perverting this sacred entity into forms that are both confusing and counter-productive if not to human proclivities, then to God's plans.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The woman then replies, indicating that she has no husband - and she isn't lying! As the LORD Himself reveals, she has had FIVE husbands, and has apparently given up trying to find the perfect man to marry, and is instead 'shacking up'.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Again, this is the way of our modern society as well. For whatever reasons, more are living together, and by the biblical standard, committing fornication. <br /><br />Sex is not dirty - it was created by God for man and woman, not only to instill a matrimonial union through intimacy, genuine love, caring and commitment to one another, but from that blessed union, create a family. Sex is not an amusement to be proliferated freely with just anyone, but with one and only that a person vows to remain committed to for life. This vow is ably fulfilled but only by those who possess the Spirit of God Who alone can enable us to fulfill it according to His approval. But I digress . . .&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jesus knows her, knows all about her and her entire life, from birth to death and beyond (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JER 1:5</span></b>). This is the focus then of today's devotional instruction.<br />We as saints, true born again believers in Christ by grace and faith may on the one hand take profound comfort in this truth. At the same time, this truth should instill in us a sense of humility and reverence.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We derive comfort in knowing that no matter what trials, struggles, heart-ache, depression, loneliness, injustices, what have you - Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith knows all about it. In fact, long before we ever encounter these difficulties,<i> long before God even created all things</i>, He knew of every circumstance and situation we would ever face: and in His grace, mercy and almighty power and wisdom, provided an answer to these dilemmas. All He asks is that we trust Him, wait upon Him, and receive - in His time (whether that time is here on Earth or in eternity) - the answers.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We have comfort in knowing that the Almighty is All-loving towards His children (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 1:12</span></b>) and wholly trustworthy. Because of His Almighty power, we have confidence that He is able to do ALL things for us; because of His nature of love and holiness we know He has the purest and best motivation in His provisions for us, to the glory of God.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We should also have a deep sense of humility and reverence for the LORD because of His omniscience ("all-knowing") ability. He knows not only what we say and do, but what we think, perceiving even more deeply than we ourselves are able, the deepest intents, inclinations and motivations of our hearts. Consider Peter's denial that he knew the LORD, even when he vehemently denied beforehand that he would ever do such a thing!<br />He did deny the LORD, and Jesus knew he would (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 26:34-35</span></b>).<br /><br />He knows all that we do in ministry to the LORD, His church and this lost world. He knows our works (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 2:2,9,13,19; 3:1,8,15</span></b>) and will reward faithfulness (not necessarily success; see <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 25:21,23</span></b>) in such service that is according to His will and plan for our lives (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 15:1-10</span></b>).</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We ought to examine ourselves (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 COR 13:5</span></b>) and seek the LORD on issues of our hearts (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">HOS 10:12</span></b>), allowing His holy light to shine into the deepest recesses (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">HEB 4:12</span></b>;&nbsp;<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 COR 4:5-6</span></b>); and reveal that which brings offense to His Holy and tender heart, and implore Him to purge us of these things (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 TIM 2:21</span></b>).<br />Jesus knows what we do in the dark, when no one is watching. The enemy whispers in our minds, "No one will ever know . . . "</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And of course <i><u>that is a bold faced lie</u></i> - God knows and sees all! Even if no one else knows, the One Who is the MOST IMPORTANT will know, and this should inspire in us a kind of holy dread and fear of God (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ISAIAH 66:2</span></b>) as well as for the deplorable sinful nature of our fallen state (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROM 7:18</span></b>).<br /><br />I think it was John Wesley that said, "<i>Give me 100 men that fear naught but God and sin, and I will overturn England!</i>"</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The lost souls of this world should rightly fear God in the deepest sense for His absolute and undeniable knowledge of all that they say, do and think. Unlike the saint of God, they have no refuge in which to hide from <a href="http://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2015/05/the-four-primary-offices-of-lord-god.html"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">the judgment of God</span></b></a>, but must face the Holy Law of God and be utterly condemned by it - no matter how moral or religious or righteous (in their own eyes or in the estimation of others) they may be.<br /><br />A friend of mine told me he was sharing the Gospel with a stranger he met at a coffee shop and when he pointed out the demands of God's Law for sinless perfection, he asked what he would do once he faces God on Judgment Day. This stranger replied, "Oh, I'll just lie to Him."<br /><br /><i><u>Utterly blind!</u></i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There is only one refuge, one source of salvation, one means of a safe retreat from the incontestable, incontrovertible Judgment of God and that is the atonement for our sins through the act of grace by the LORD Jesus Christ on Calvary (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROM 5:1-16</span></b>), Who bore not only all of humanities sins, but also God's Holy Wrath upon those sins (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROM 8:2-3</span></b>)!! He willingly offered Himself (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 10:17-18</span></b>; <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">PHIL 2:6-8</span></b>) on our behalf, to suffer and die for our sins (which rightly would render to us eternal death and separation from the ONLY Life Source in all creation - God Himself). Yet not only did He pay the price for our sins, He then offers to us ETERNAL LIFE by His Spirit of Life. <a href="http://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2015/08/the-four-primary-offices-of-lord-god.html"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Our Blessed Redeemer</span></b></a>!<br /><br />By this paramountly priceless act, through <a href="http://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2006/06/price-of-blood.html"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">His precious blood</span></b></a>, He delivers to us this deliverance from sin, death and hell, transforming us from condemned sinners into consecrated saints!&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Are you saved or not? Jesus knows.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For those of you who are not yet saved, answer this call to repentance, for today is the day of salvation for you (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 COR 6:2</span></b>)!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For those of us who are already saved, remember that in the very steps and course of your lives: all the blessings and burdens, from the heights of joy to the depths of sorrow, and every experience in between, Jesus knows! <br />Let us trust ourselves to and rest in the everlasting arms, and in those nail-pierced hands that created the universe with such omnipotent power and yet handles us with the tenderest of gentleness.</span>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-67030832208649398792017-06-18T20:18:00.002-07:002017-06-18T20:20:47.209-07:00JEWELS From The GOSPEL Of JOHN: LIVING vs. WELL WATER - JOHN 4:10-15<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbclexyouth.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/the-gospel-according-to-john.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="800" height="277" src="https://fbclexyouth.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/the-gospel-according-to-john.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. These articles will not run contiguously on this blog but peppered throughout and in the midst of other articles (though some might be posted consecutively). I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>JOHN 4:10-15</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">When we last visited Sychar, we were listening in to the conversation between this Samaritan woman and the LORD Jesus. He had just asked her for a drink of water, and she was amazed at this request. The LORD responds to her reaction here in vs. 10.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">She doesn't know anything about who Jesus is, other than that He is a Jewish man; and because she doesn't really know who He is, she can't possibly know the gift that He bears: living water (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 7:37</span></b>).</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">She is of course clueless, not at all understanding what our LORD is expressing to her. She is thinking purely in physical terms, and wonders how He could draw any water from any well seeing He has no bucket to retrieve this "living water" with. The LORD encountered such 'clueless-ness' even among His own disciples (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 16:11</span></b>; <span style="color: #3d85c6; font-weight: bold;">MARK 7:18-20</span>;&nbsp;<b style="color: #3d85c6;">8:20-22;&nbsp;</b><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 4:31-34</span></b>).</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Yet the LORD draws His water from a source far, far deeper than the deepest well in all the world. He draws this spiritual nourishment from the depths of His own heart! The heart of God, so holy, so magnificent, so quintessentially awesome and wondrous that it will take the saints all of eternity to plumb its depths (and never reach bottom!!) and discover the glory and joy that is God Himself (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 COR 3:17-18</span></b>; <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">4:6-7</span></b>).</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">She then asks Him the obvious question - "Are you greater than our father Jacob who gave us this well, and drank of it personally?"<br />Once again, she is expressing ignorance of Who it is that is sitting on that well, conversing with her.<br />The obvious answer is, "Yes!" He is God Incarnate, the very GOD of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - but the LORD doesn't say this to her. Note that: He is leading her gently along, carefully guiding her to the truth.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">How different is this approach than the one that He used with Nicodemus in the preceding chapter. With that man, the LORD gave him both barrels, full blast. And this is the way the Spirit leads us, utilizing different methods on different occasions with different people. The fisherman is well acquainted with what kind of bait to use for what kinds of fish. And the LORD is making us into evangelistic "fishers of men" (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MARK 1:17</span></b>), and teaching us various approaches in declaring the <a href="http://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2011/04/true-gospel-accept-no-imitations.html"><b>One, True Gospel</b></a>. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The LORD then begins to clarify the discussion, making a distinction between physical water and the living waters He is offering to this woman.<br />Interesting, don't you think, that He Who experienced physical thirst, Who is the Living Water Himself, is offering this woman who suffers spiritual thirst the means to quench it?</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">He states that any who drinks of Jacob's well will thirst again. In that statement is the spiritual truth regarding all of the things of this world. We may quench our various worldly thirsts - hunger, thirst, desires, questions, lusts, loneliness, ambitions, goals with food, water, carnal knowledge, philosophy, training, education, marriage, family, morality and other means and they may satisfy for a while, even a long while - but they cannot quench the thirst that lies deep within: a spiritual hunger, a gnawing emptiness or "vanity" (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROM 8:20-21</span></b>) that is, as it's been described, a '<i>God-shaped hole</i>' that can never be filled with anything<b><span style="color: red;">*</span></b> other than that which was intended to fill it - with the Spirit of God, the Living Waters, Himself!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><b>*</b></span>A review of the book of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes+1&amp;version=KJV"><b>Ecclesiastes</b></a>&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">will reveal the burdensome of this fallen world and how it weighs upon our weary souls!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Yet those who partake of the Living Water - for them, the quest for satisfaction, the yearning to have that enigmatic emptiness filled comes to a startling end, because of the embracing of the Savior! He alone can satisfy - and as I have said it often before: "In a world of deceitful, empty mirages, amidst the barren bleak deserts of parched souls, there is an O.A.S.I.S! Only the Almighty Savior Immanuel Satisfies!"</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">There are those who have achieved all that their hearts could wish, be it fame or fortune, or both and more besides. Once achieved they think that life will be full and they shall know contentment. This is often why Hollywood is full of drugs, alcohol and promiscuity - because these 'stars' have got it all - except that "peace that passes all understanding":</span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>PHIL 4:6-8</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The Samaritan woman still doesn't understand - because while she does ask to receive these living waters from this Jewish man, the reason she gives is so that she will &nbsp;"...thirst not, neither come hither to draw..." She's thinking that she could save a lot of time and effort by not constantly having to fetch water every day!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">How patiently the LORD is with this woman, gently lead her on, until she comes to understand Who it is that speaks with her.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The world has many different opinions about who Jesus is; I'm convinced that if you ask 50 different people you'd easily get half as many answers. Yet like this woman, until they come to understand Who He is, they will never seek that which He offers: eternal life both now, infused into us by His Spirit via spiritual new birth, and a living, vital relationship with God, not merely as Creator and LORD, but also as Redeemer and Friend!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Selah - Wonderful Merciful Savior</b></span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gQzrqmcwg8o/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gQzrqmcwg8o?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-39312962532400554102017-05-29T18:29:00.000-07:002017-06-11T09:46:22.217-07:00CHURCH ETIQUETTE: HOW CHURCH SHOULD BE DONE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://mnprairieroots.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/last-supper-congregation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="266" src="https://mnprairieroots.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/last-supper-congregation.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">This is not intended to be a dogmatic check-list on how church must be done, based upon my own personal preferences, but rather, upon what honors God and His Word which reveals how things should be done: “… <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>decently and in order</b></span> …” (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 COR 14:40</span></b>).&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">As we consider all the aspects of the church gathering, and all that this entails, we quickly realize we must talk about how we greet one another, conduct in the sanctuary, the ministry of worshiping the LORD, the ministry of the Word at the pulpit, in Sunday School, youth ministry, etc. And many other things besides.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">As we are living in the last days and the apostasy is growing exponentially, we are witnessing a diminishing respect for the Word of God, and even – dare I say – for God Himself. And sadly, it shows in our congregations today! Yet God exalts His Word even above His own Name (And His Name is utterly Holy! See <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">PSALM 138:2</span></b>)! If the LORD God esteems His Word that much, who are we to ignore or disrespect it?!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Let us then examine the issues, see what the Scriptures say on these matters, and submit to the LORD and His ways.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">When we come into the house of God, as it is often called, we should come with our hearts prepared to meet with Him. A sense of humility as well as excitement should be evident (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">AMOS 4:12; ISAIAH 2:3; 66:2</span></b>). We should come with our Bibles in hand: too often we see Christians coming into the sanctuary without their Bible. I always bring what I refer to as my ‘buddy Bible’ – that is, the one that I most frequently read.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Why is this important? Because I want to record what I’m learning in its margins: jot down cross references given in the teaching, write down key words and phrases that will remind me of what I’ve learned.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Just as the Israelites bound passages of Scripture upon them in their <a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/phylacteries.html">phylacteries</a>, in a sense we bind the truth of Scripture in notes as the teacher elaborates on verses out of the Bible (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">DEUT. 6:8; 11:8</span></b>). Scribes of both the Old Testament and New, were constantly recording teachings about Scripture, passed down to them from various rabbis. How much more so should we record in writing the teachings of our ‘rabbi’s’ – our pastors and teachers, these gifts of God to the church (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">EPH 4:7-12</span></b>).</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">If you use a pew Bible, or simply follow along on the overhead, you can’t do this. How many times through the years, when getting a brand, new Bible, because my buddy Bible has worn out, have I carefully, meticulously transferred all my precious notes from the old one into the new one!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Yet before the teaching even begins, there is customarily a time of worshiping the LORD, which absolutely prepares our hearts to receive from the LORD His Word. Yet how often I have seen Christians come regularly late into the sanctuary, missing out on part or even all of the time of worship! Somehow they see the worship time as something to occupy the people until the important part of the service: the teaching. This idea couldn't possibly be more wrong! There are cherubim whose entire existence revolves around worshiping God 24/7. How much more should worship be a priority for us!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>PSALM 96:7-9</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">7 Give unto the Lord, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and strength. 8 Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts. 9 O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">During the time of worship, our hearts, devotion and attention needs to be settled upon God. We are not engaged in a song-fest about God, we are actually, genuinely interacting spiritually with and addressing personally, the LORD of heaven who is seated upon His throne, hearing our voices and song, receiving the honor of our worship. Worship leaders need to lead the worship by <i>worshiping God</i>, and not by coaxing, coaching and directing the congregation to do so. If the worship team is genuinely worshiping, it’ll be contagious, and the saints will worship genuinely as well.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">It’s been said, “He who worships, <i>prays twice</i>.”</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">We should understand that when we pray, we are addressing our LORD and worship is nothing less than that! Again, right now, as you read this, there are myriads of angels, seraphim and cherubim – these mighty, well-nigh god-like beings who humble themselves, prostrating and worshiping the LORD with the greatest of reverence (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ISAIAH 6:2-4</span></b>). Should our conduct, we who have been bought by the blood of the Lamb, redeemed from our sin, be any less?</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">One of the most significant problems I have during times of worship, is when with my eyes closed, hands raised to heaven, my voice and heart engaged in extolling and praising God, and someone walks into the sanctuary and stand next to me and nudges me with their elbow or extends their hand and says, “How’re you doing brother?”</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The LORD is utterly worthy of every second of our attention as we bring our offerings of praise. For someone to interrupt that devotion, in my mind, is robbing God by getting my focus off of Him and onto another; even if it’s only for a moment.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">There is time for greeting one another, usually at some point either during, before or after the service; I don’t believe our ministry in the worship of God, in the very act of our devotion, is that time.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">So often when the priests of the Old Testament were ministering in the Temple, the presence of God was so potent, that they couldn’t even move (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 KINGS 8:11; 2 CHRON 5:14</span></b>)! Such was the wondrous atmosphere of awesome holiness, that I’m sure that they didn’t want to move!&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">And in medieval days, when the king was on his throne in his courtroom and his subjects were in attendance while he declared some royal pronouncements, no one dared to speak, even in a whisper, while the king spoke.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The apostle Peter declared in his epistle how they heard God’s voice from heaven – and the experience left them on their faces, trembling. Yet he then told his readers that “<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">we have also a more sure word of prophecy</span></b>”, referring to the Scriptures (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 PETER 1:18-21</span></b>). I recall how one old time TV preacher would read the Holy Bible on his knees before his televised audience.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">And yet while the Spirit of the LORD is guiding the saints in worship of the LORD, the King of heaven and He is speaking to us through the Word being taught, I have too, too often heard people chatting, giggling, or any number of things, causing distraction among God’s people, who are trying to focus their attention on the Word of the King.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Where is the reverence, where is the holy fear and trembling? Would these people fall off their chairs and reverence the LORD <i>if they actually heard Him speak audibly to their congregation?</i> And yet the apostle states that it’s the written Word – “<i>that more sure Word</i>” – that even God esteems more than His own Name, which we should give our pious and humble attention to.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">And I must admit, <u>that I myself engaged in such foolishness</u>, in my younger days. This shows a disregard not only for the pastor, and even more so, a careless attitude towards the LORD. Some might think my assessment rather harsh, but considering Who and what God is, I don’t think so.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Another distraction is children crying or making a fuss in the sanctuary during the ministry from the pulpit, either in worship or Word. Therefore, the institution of cry rooms came to be: to ensure a distraction free environment in which the saints may focus, unhindered on what the LORD would speak. Again, letting everything be done decently and in order (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 COR 14:40</span></b>). <br />The Holy Spirit's ministry is to draw people to Jesus, to exalt Him and direct our attention, our hearts, our lives to the LORD in our devotion - when babies or small children are crying, screaming or causing a ruckus, our attention is distracted from the LORD and the Holy Spirit is quenched (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 THESS 5:19</span></b>). Is this an extreme view? I don't believe so.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Even in home Bible studies, we would often take up a little collection to pay a babysitter (if no family members were available) to care after the little ones while elsewhere in the house, or the house next door, the Bible teacher could teach without distraction.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">It’s also why children’s ministry came into being: sadly today, unruly, undisciplined children seem to be the norm. The old motto of “children should be seen and not heard” <i>is unheard of today</i>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">My spiritual mother in the faith told me that when she was a small child, she and her only somewhat older sister were silent in church, attending to the teaching as well as they were able to at their age, but never thought of raising their voices, much less throwing a tantrum and causing havoc.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">For this reason children’s ministry is a practical necessity today: ministry is designed to address them and their needs at their level of comprehension and discipline. I have been involved with children’s ministry, and it was as much a blessing for me as for the children. <u>And it was always very apparent which of them were being taught the Bible at home, and which were not</u>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Yet there are parents who are adamant about not allowing their children to attend such Sunday School classes, and permit them to create distractions, even though people near them are having difficulty concentrating on the teaching.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The creation of youth ministry is perhaps another matter: most adults read at a comprehension level of a 6th or 7th grade student. I tend to wonder if it’s really necessary for these youth, who can sit in a school setting for 6 hours or more a day, to have a special place in the church setting, when for all practical purposes, they could easily remain with the adults and comprehend what is taught just as readily as their elders. Considering what passes for ‘youth ministry’ today I’d say our youth are better off. However, thankfully, there are those blessed exceptions where the pastor of youth truly has a heart for these young souls.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">There are some teens today look like they’re about to die of boredom in today’s sanctuaries, and routinely pull out their smart phones and commence numerous rounds on their favorite video games to keep from falling asleep (which others do).&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Have they no spiritual appetite? Is their knowledge and love for the LORD not being cultivated by their parents? I know that there are parents who feel inadequate to teach their own children, abdicate that responsibility on their children’s or youth minister, and somehow hope that their child will grow up to “fear the LORD”. Certainly there are those parents who agonize in prayer over their unsaved teens and young children – and I stand with them in their intercessions! There is a need to disciple parents in the faith, so that they may in turn be equipped to disciple their own children.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">From the article,<b> <i><a href="http://www.charismanews.com/us/41465-youth-groups-driving-christian-teens-to-abandon-faith">Youth Groups Driving Christian Teens to Abandon Faith</a></i></b>, we have the following quote:</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">"<i>Our fervent prayer is that God will raise up Spirit-filled, Bible-preaching, Christ-centered, family-integrated assemblies from the ashes of our man-centered, family-fragmenting churches," McManus adds. "Plus, the church needs to begin to equip Christian fathers to communicate the gospel to their families. Today, Christian parents are beginning to realize that they have not fulfilled their spiritual duties by simply dropping off their kiddos to Sunday school and youth group, allowing other parents to disciple their children by proxy.</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i>"Let's not forget the powerful words spoken by Moses in:&nbsp;</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><b>DEUT 6:4-7</b></i></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><b>Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.&nbsp;</b></i></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up</span></b>.</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i>"It is the parents' primary obligation to disciple their own children, impressing God's commandments upon them in the home on a daily basis</i>."</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Something else that I find entirely inappropriate are people getting up in the middle of the teaching to go get a drink of water, or to use the restroom (barring health issues that some people have that require more frequent bathroom visits, the average healthy individual is well able to control their bladder for at least 45 minutes to 1 hour), or even go outside to have a smoke or talk on their cell phone. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Speaking of which, how often we have been listening to the pastor speak when suddenly we all hear a ring-tone, and wonder whose cell phone just rang – more distractions! More quenching of the Spirit of God!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">There have even been a couple of occasions where a congregant’s phone went off, they answered it, <i>and began a conversation for all to hear</i>, including the pastor who’s trying to communicate with the flock of the Good Shepherd!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The ministry of the Word goes on an average somewhere between 30 to 60 minutes, typically around 40 to 45 minutes. I will usually go for a bathroom break right before I enter the sanctuary for the commencement of ministry, and that will hold me over until the conclusion of the service about 98% of the time. I check my cell phone to make sure it’s off or on vibrate mode. And I always discourage people from talking to me during the ministry in the sanctuary.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Yet we can’t seem to give God our undivided attention <i>even for this short amount of time?!&nbsp;</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">There should be no reason, in the main, for the congregation members to leave the sanctuary or engage in behavior that causes distractions when the Word of God is being taught. Yet I have witnessed church-goers as I sat at the back of the sanctuary looking like a host of <i>jack-in-the-boxes</i>, getting up, leaving, coming back in, only to see others do the same.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br />Then there are those who seek to stand out, to draw attention to themselves, who participate in bizarre behavior but claim that “it was the Spirit that led me”. That is not being Spirit-filled! If you want an accurate portrayal of what a Spirit-filled person looks like, <i>you need look no further than the LORD Jesus Himself</i>. Too much foolishness takes place in our fellowships and then the Holy Spirit gets blamed (remember “<a href="http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/blessing.html"><b>Holy Laughter, Toronto Blessing</b></a>, and that false teacher Rodney Howard-Browne, who referred to himself as ‘God’s Bartender’ – getting people ‘drunk in the Spirit’?).</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Or they will stand out by dressing immodestly – I am not at all exaggerating when I say I’ve seen people dressed for church like they are going out ‘clubbing’. Some of them were professing Christians for many, many years. I believe the admonition for modest apparel is applicable to men just as much as to women (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 TIM 2:9</span></b>).</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">I’ve seen even ushers who are supposed to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit in a ministry, who are to never draw attention to themselves but to the LORD; but some of them dress in provocative clothing, either flashy or too snug, which can cause others to be distracted.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">There are some that maintain a belief that church fellowship is for saints only; sinners are not welcome because it’s inappropriate for them to congregate with the body of Christ. They insist that such should receive the Gospel and subsequent salvation, being them baptized into the body of Christ spiritually, and then permitted to join the congregation.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">As I see it, while we the church are in this world, and the buildings (whether public or our homes) where we attend fellowship are likewise in this world, that we should expect the lost who are seeking, to find the Gospel inside or outside ‘the church’.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The distinction between the saved and unsaved should be recognized, but that by no means should disallow the lost from our places of fellowship – unless they are in some way bringing harm to the body. Certainly, they should never be given a place of ministry or position, but if they are willing to attend, a place should be made for them. Otherwise, how could we even invite such a one into our homes, if our family is redeemed – is not that family considered part of the church, and if so, then by the same reasoning, shouldn’t we disallow them from entering under our roof?</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Besides which, unless God were to grant us absolute discernment, how could we possibly get rid of ‘unbelievers’ if they are professing Christ, attending service, seem to maintain a godly life style, but in truth, are not genuinely saved? There is a difference between what is called the visible church and the invisible. The visible church are members of professing Christians, who may or may not be saved, and anyone may join (this comprises a mixed multitude) and the invisible church who are members of possessing Christians, who indeed are saved because of the indwelling Spirit of grace that they possess, and He them, and no one can join the body of Christ except through spiritual rebirth and faith in Christ and His gospel. Consider <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 13:28-30</span></b>.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">I hope everyone who reads this article takes it in the spirit in which it’s intended. I sincerely do not wish to be overly critical of people and fellowships, but pray that we may all – myself included – consider our conduct, and our attitudes while congregating before the LORD, Who is in our midst, His church and body.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">For more about this issue, see the following articles (note: this author does not necessarily agree with and, or endorse everything that is stated in these writings):</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><a href="http://articles.faithwriters.com/reprint-article-details.php?article=23080"><br /></a></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><a href="http://articles.faithwriters.com/reprint-article-details.php?article=23080"><b>7 Church Etiquette Rules Everyone Should Know</b></a></span><br /><b><br /></b><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/church-etiquette-elliott-ivey-sermon-on-christian-love-58352?page=1"><b>Church Etiquette by Elliot Ivey</b></a></span><br /><b><br /></b><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><a href="http://dentonbible.org/notes/church-etiquette/"><b>Church Etiquette by Tom Wilson</b></a></span><br /><b><br /></b><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.slideshare.net/cmorris1991/church-etiquette"><b>Church Etiquette – Manners</b></a></span><br /><br /><div><br /></div>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-26295245370828830202017-04-29T11:53:00.000-07:002017-04-29T16:19:17.711-07:00JEWELS From The GOSPEL Of JOHN: WANTING A DEBATE - JOHN 4:7-10,19-24<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://christophercrandolph.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/gospelofjohn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://christophercrandolph.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/gospelofjohn.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i>&nbsp;The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. These articles will not run contiguously on this blog but peppered throughout and in the midst of other articles (though some might be posted consecutively). I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints</i>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">In our dealings with this terribly lost world of blind souls, who cannot recognize truth on their own, we are often confronted with arguments and barriers. It is job #1 for the enemy to keep them in a blinded state, so that the Light of the LORD will remain unseen by them (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 COR 4:4</span></b>). It is job #1 for us saints, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb by the grace (unmerited favor) of God, to declare the gospel, prayerfully seeking God's touch upon them (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 COR 5:20-21</span></b>), that they may perceive the love of God for them (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 JOHN 3:16</span></b>).</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>JOHN 4:7-10</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/Samaritans.html">Samaritan</a>. The very word was disdained by pure bred Jews who looked upon these 'half-breeds' with contempt. These were Jews who were abducted and brought as slaves to Assyria (approximately 720 B.C.E.), where they eventually intermarried with the natives. This affected them socially, culturally and religiously and when they returned to the land (Samaria) they maintained much of their ways - much to the hatred of their Jewish neighbors, who would travel far out of their way in journeying from Galilee to Judea (or vice-versa), just to avoid going through Samaria.<br /><br />Not so with the LORD Jesus: ". . . He must needs go through Samaria." And not just any place in that land, but into the very city of Sychar, a place possibly named so by contempt of the Jews to allude to <a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/sychar/">"drunkenness" and, or "falseness"</a> because the Samaritans were given over (to what the Jews believed to be) idolatry. And Jesus "must needs go through" - because He was on a mission.<br /><br />Yet when He comes to the well, wearied with His long journey and thirsty- this Man asks a Samaritan woman for some water. She came to the well as that hour (around noon) and not in the relative coolness of the morning, quite probably because she was something of an outcast, and not welcome to the well by other women, who (correctly) perceived her as a 'loose woman' (see vs. 17-18).&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Yet this woman carries with her the cultural barrier between Jews and Samaritans; she questions why Jesus is even speaking with her, much less wanting to receive water from her. Yet the LORD would not be put off by her rebuff. He speaks to her of "living water" - that is, of Himself (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 7:37-38</span></b>). He beckons her to go and get her husband, and when she confesses that she has no husband, the LORD commends her for her honesty, declaring that she had previously had five husbands, and the one she was with was 'shacking up' with her. This is when she says:</span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>JOHN 4:19-24</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The shift from cultural and social barriers now turns at the direction of this woman to a religious one. This was no doubt, a long standing controversy and generational contention between Jews and Samaritans. She challenges Jesus on the location for true worship: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Gerizim">Mount Gerazim</a>, where the Samaritans contend that Abraham offered up Isaac (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">GEN 22</span></b>) or Jerusalem - the location of long held conviction and historical veracity of Jewish worship. It seems an 'either/or' answer is what this woman sought of Jesus; not unlike the answer which the Herodians asked of Him concerning paying taxes to Caesar (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MARK 12:13-14</span></b>). Yet the LORD was not about to get cornered by such a question.<br />His answer to this woman was the same kind as with the Herodians: Neither the option of Jerusalem or Mt. Gerazim (A or B) was chosen, but C: the truth!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The revelation of God's truth and plan of salvation came from the Word of God Himself (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">HEB 1:1-8</span></b>); the written Word was then entrusted to the Jewish nation (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROM 3:2</span></b>) - salvation indeed is "of the Jews (vs. 22)" in that sense, but like the Samaritans, the children of this world (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">EPH 2:2-3</span></b>), the tares planted by Satan (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 13:26-28, 38-39</span></b>), the deceivers and false teachers (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 PET 2:1</span></b>; <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 TIM 3:13</span></b>) today want to blend in just a bit of truth with their do-it-yourself-religion, and the latest incarnation of this is the <a href="http://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2016/08/the-emerging-church-movement-its-roots.html">Emergent Church Movement</a> or Emergence Christianity. It is abomination in the sight of God! In another <a href="http://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2010/02/zealous-for-name-of-lord.html">article</a> <i>FROM The MIND of FIRE</i>, I wrote concerning the pollution of God's Truth and Way of salvation:</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">"<i>In <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">EXOD 20:25</span></b> it states:</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it</span></b>.</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i>"The LORD Jesus Christ is referred to as 'the ROCK' in scripture, as well as that 'stone <u>cut without hands</u>'. I find it interesting then, that if any sacrifice is made on an altar of stone, its not to be of hewn (cut) stone, but natural; in other words any changing of the rock's appearance through human effort would pollute it and any sacrifice offered upon it.</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i>"God will not accept any human design, imagination, efforts in works or elaborate religious creations in regards to the justification He Himself provides for the salvation of mankind!" </i>And might I add He will not tolerate those who would make 'another Jesus' (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 COR 11:4</span></b>) seeking to change the true and living LORD<i>.</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i>"In <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">NUM 25:1-11</span></b> There is an account where Israel committed whoredoms with the pagan nation of Moab (this seduction was performed by the counsels of Balaam, who advised Balak to have the Moabite women go into the camp of Israel and lure their men); in the throes of erotic passions, the Moabite women would bring out their idols, and they would pay homage to these false gods.</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i>This wasn't even done under cover of darkness, nor behind the backs of Moses and Aaron; note vs. 6:</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation</span></b>.</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i>Because of this, a plague from the LORD broke out among the children of Israel, but it was suddenly stopped. How? Did they have an ecumenical meeting with Baalpeor and the leadership of that nation? Did they have a consensus and seek out common beliefs so that they could dialogue and come to a mutually agreeable belief system whereby they could join together and form a peaceful religious association so that they might better their world?</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i>No! Read in vs. 7-8:</i></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><b>And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand;</b></i></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel</span></b>.</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i>Harsh action? Cruel punishment? An unjust deed?</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i>Listen to what the LORD had to say about this!</i></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><b>NUM 25:10-13</b></i></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy. Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace: And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel</span></b>.</i></span><br /> <i><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"></span></i><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><i>Because one man had the zeal, the love for, and awesome reverence for the LORD and His Holy Name, he took it upon himself to stand up for righteousness and bring a stop to the whoredoms and spiritual adultery that had infested the camp of Israel! He slew those who were guilty of High Treason against the LORD GOD Almighty, Creator and Judge of all the Earth! For that, the plague ceased at the command of the LORD, and He blessed Phinehas!</i>"</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Getting back to Samaria now, let's see how the LORD deals with this situation:</span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth</span>.</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Spiritual worship must be in accordance with truth as found in God's Word; not according to experiential subjectivity or 'what feels right, or good' as is the case with New Age style worship or meditation or <a href="http://www.spiritual-research-network.com/christianleaderscontemplativeprayer.html">contemplative prayer</a>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">There are so many that when confronted with biblical truth say, "Well <i><u>I</u> believe</i> . . . " and go on and explain their belief system based on their own understanding, information and a hodge-podge smorgasbord of pseudo-spiritual suppositions and dogma. Yet what sort of foundation is this? It is based on self and not Scripture, on one's own thinking rather than the Mind of God as so revealed in the Holy Bible.<br /><br />Even so-called Christians tend toward subjectivism and will believe this about the Bible, and that, but refuse to believe this or that about the Bible - and as it has been said before: If you pick and choose what you will believe and won't believe about the Bible, then it's not the Bible you truly believe, but yourself!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">If truth is sacrificed, specifically the objective truth as found exclusively in the Holy Bible, then worship is vain (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MARK 7:7</span></b>; <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 6:7</span></b>) and any relationship with God is unobtainable (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ISAIAH 59:1-3</span></b>).</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">In our dealings with the lost, we must stay on point, not allow distractions or deflections; our chiefest desire is to lead them to the God of Truth, leading them in the Way of righteousness, and introduce them to the Author of Life (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 14:6</span></b>). We must not merely point them in the right direction and bid them 'go' but experience the Way, the Truth and the Life for ourselves, daily, and bid them 'come' and 'follow me as I follow Christ' (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 COR 11:1</span></b>).</span>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-22377729592031003422017-04-12T19:26:00.000-07:002017-04-12T19:26:03.988-07:00Another Smoke Signal: ESCAPE FROM GRAY WORLD<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://case.edu/online-learning/media/caseedu/online-learning/images/globe_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://case.edu/online-learning/media/caseedu/online-learning/images/globe_resized.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>GENESIS 1:1-4</b></span><br /><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.</b></span><br /><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.</b></span><br /><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The LORD God created all things, and made the Earth from its prior condition of formlessness and darkness. He began with the introduction of light, which in His eyes was good. Light is always good and useful, particularly where darkness reigns. It reveals, exposes, illuminates and dispels the unknown, the mysterious, the unfathomable and brings clarity and understanding. Light enables discernment.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">God then divided the light from the darkness; these were distinct from one another, in complete contrast, without similarities or commonalities at all.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The same can be applied to the spiritual dimension as with the physical dimension. It is the light of God's Word that brings clarity (<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">EPH 5:13</span></b>), understanding and discernment (<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">HEB 4:12</span></b>; <b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">HEB 5:12,14</span></b>). If any claim to have these things, but denies God's Word, they truly have no light in them whatsoever:</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">ISAIAH 8:19-20<br />19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? 20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">We live in a <b><span style="color: #666666;">GRAY WORLD</span></b>, but truth be told, this condition of 'grayness' began ever since Satan challenged the plain and abundantly clear Word of God. God told Adam that the day that they ate of the forbidden fruit, in that day they would surely die.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Yet Satan opposed that directive from Deity and deceived them by saying "you shall NOT surely die."</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">He proved himself to be a menace by muddying up the crystal clear water of God's Word. The distinction between truth and lies has been obfuscated ever since those early days and today we can find little evidence in society of stark, bold, clean-cut and objective, absolute truth. Such things are frowned upon, considered "politically incorrect" and "objectionable".</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Ecumenical and Emergent proponents view absolute and objective truth as a misnomer for aggressive and close-minded arrogance which is promoted by 'bibliolaters' or those who, they claim, place <a href="http://theredpillconsortium.blogspot.com/2011/01/are-you-over-committed-to-gods-word.html">too high a regard on the Bible</a> and revere this book to the point of worship.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Ecumenism has absorbed some form of Christianity (with just a trace of biblical truth, albeit twisted) to create a world without clarity, without absolutes or certainty, a world of polite, political correctness, where the objective is a kind of spiritual/religious uniformitarianism - a palatable blandness that is heavy on the experiential and light on objective truth.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br />And anyones experience is just as valid as any other - as are perspectives of such that hold to this uniformitarianism. Everyone is right and no one is wrong (except those who believe in absolutes); all is truth (except for THE Truth, <b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">JOHN 14:6</span></b>) and nothing is wrong. Thus in this <b><span style="color: #666666;">GRAY WORLD</span></b>, it's impossible to make any mistakes, to say nothing of committing 'sin'.<br /><br />By diluting the Word of God with more and more modern translations, and even more so, these perilous paraphrases of the Bible, people are being weaned from the truth of the Scriptures. And they are gleaning spiritual 'truths' from novels and films, rather than from the pages of Holy Writ!<br />By the Emergence Movement, people are being taught to question the authoritative, inspired Scripture and persuaded that truth is indeed relative. Thus this world is getting more and more gray all the time.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The <i><a href="http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/05/dialectic.htm">Hegelian dialectic</a></i> is a process being used by the forces of this world to take polar opposites (thesis and anti-thesis) and bringing them together and fusing them into a paren-thesis - from light and dark - to become gray.<br /><br />The other factor being added into the mix is <a href="http://www.letusreason.org/curren76.htm">pantheism</a> - the idea that "all is God, and God is all" and so we merely have to identify with the Deity already within us. Such a view is Eastern in its philosophy and religious persuasion, but it has found its way into the West via Yoga, TM, and more recently, contemplative spirituality.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">In this <b><span style="color: #666666;">Gray World</span></b>, there are no clear compass directions - "north" <i>may not be</i> north. "Can we really understand what it means to head south"? In this world, to be lost and asking questions with an air of blatant uncertainty is something to be admired. To express certitude to tantamount to blasphemy and something to be shunned; certainly disapproved of.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Where <a href="http://theredpillconsortium.blogspot.com/2010/05/demise-of-civilization-death-of-moral.html">truth is sacrificed, justice</a> will soon be placed on the same altar of relativism.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Truth is not something to be possessed, but to be sought after as we 'spiritually evolve' to higher understanding of the vulgar expressions that the prophets of the Bible declared - these 'gray people' genuinely believe that they have greater and deeper understanding than any prophet or apostle - even the LORD Jesus Himself - because in this spiritual evolution which enables them to comprehend more than all previous generations. Yet in their eyes, this spiritual evolution will continue but <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZxlQ8fEjtU">never enable</a> them to come to the full knowledge of anything remotely identifiable as absolute truth:</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>2 TIM 3:5-8</b></span><br /><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.</b></span><br /><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,</b></span><br /><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Such grayness will make truth that is meant to be seen and understood anemic, tepid, ineffectual at leading people to the Author of Truth - and rather, this 'anything goes' grayness will lead to, and in fact already has led to spiritual anarchy, iniquity, lawlessness:</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b style="color: #6fa8dc;">2 THESS 2:7</b><br /><b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">7 For the mystery of iniquity</span> </b>[lawlessness]<b style="color: #6fa8dc;"> doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way</b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The only way to escape this <b><span style="color: #666666;">GRAY WORLD</span></b> is by cleaving tenaciously to the inspired Word of God, to know the truth it teaches, and most of all, its Author - the LORD Jesus Christ.<br /><br />For more on this and closely related issues, I recommend this video entitled, <i>The CHAIR</i> (about 76 mins total time) by Frank Peretti, well known for his novels such as these <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Peretti-Three-Pack-Frank-E/dp/0842386564/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_img_0?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=QPDP9K95R06YEF1H4FK1">two books</a>, <i>This Present Darkness</i> and <i>Piercing the Darkness</i>:</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mb5vyS1eFRI/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mb5vyS1eFRI?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qtAQdbBd3nk/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qtAQdbBd3nk?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /><br /><br /></span>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-35618225135906260642017-03-30T20:35:00.000-07:002017-03-30T20:35:48.021-07:00JEWELS From The GOSPEL Of JOHN: The ENCOUNTER with CHRIST - JOHN 4:1-6<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbclexyouth.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/the-gospel-according-to-john.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://fbclexyouth.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/the-gospel-according-to-john.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>&nbsp;<span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. These articles will not run contiguously on this blog but peppered throughout and in the midst of other articles (though some might be posted consecutively). I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>JOHN 4:1-6</b></span><br /><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>1 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,</b></span><br /><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)</b></span><br /><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>3 He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.</b></span><br /><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>4 And he must needs go through Samaria.</b></span><br /><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>5 Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">6 Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">See now how the LORD is a meek and lowly LORD - though He is LORD of all, Creator God and the Word Incarnate - He conducts Himself in such humble fashion. He understood that because His fame was quickly outgrowing that of His predecessor, John the Baptist, He didn't capitalize on it. Instead, He left Judea and returned to Galilee, far away.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Yet no matter where He went, the LORD was always making disciples - and we dare not forget who we are: we are NOT disciples of a church, we are NOT disciples of our pastors, we are NOT disciples of elder saints who have known the LORD far longer than we . . .<br />We are disciples, followers, students of the LORD Jesus Christ. <br />We follow Him to His cross where we learn of His supreme sacrifice.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">We follow Him where He leads us to our own crosses and learn to deny self.<br />We follow Him where He lays upon us His yoke which He bears Himself, and we learn of Him the King of Kings, the Supreme Servant, the I AM That I AM, the LORD and Redeemer.<br /><br />The LORD's objective was never to acquire fame, or prestige. He was on a mission from the Father and was intent on fulfilling His will. We must always bear this in mind, should the LORD prosper our ministry and we begin to gain a following whose numbers begin to swell to an incalculable&nbsp;degree. Followers in those kinds of numbers can potentially sway us - intentionally or not - in directions that are not the Father's will. This is in essence the difference between those who please God and those who become people-pleasers.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">And besides all of that potential drama that the LORD left behind, He had an appointment in Samaria.<br /><br />This entire scenario is being staged beforehand by the LORD; He prepared the way for the encounter, first of all, with this Samaritan woman, and then with the entire village.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Long before we knew Christ our LORD, before we had any desire for Him or inclination towards repentance, He prepared the way for us, because He had foreknown us: there is nothing our Sovereign God does not know about us: every trait in us, every habit, every decision and choice, every path and tributary we take, every response and reaction.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">He knows already who will receive Him, and who will not, based upon their response to the&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">beckoning</span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">&nbsp;of the Holy Spirit of sinners to come unto Jesus for salvation.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">He travels with inspired intent towards the city of Sychar - a place whose name many have <a href="http://biblehub.com/greek/4965.htm">identified&nbsp;</a></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/greek/4965.htm">as meaning</a>, "abode of liars or idolaters</span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">&nbsp;and drunks".<br />See the Holy, sinless, spotless Lamb of God intentionally zeroing in on this city of Sychar. He would no doubt say to anyone who would be indignant at such a meeting, the same thing He said to the Pharisees who found fault with Him because He kept company with sinners:<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">MARK 2:17 <br />When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">It was imperative for Jesus to get to Sychar - and meet with this people group that the Jews (His own people) despised - and that feeling was mutual among the Samaritans as well!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Yet the LORD was breaking down social and cultural barriers and doing the unthinkable - reaching out with His message to those that most Jews would never have bothered to give the time of day to!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">There have been many that I have known personally who either live in their own 'Sychar' or worse, once tasted of the good things of the LORD, but then turned back to that sin-city. And I have prayed earnestly that the LORD "must needs" go to their 'Sychar' and have an encounter with them, bringing to them the "living water" that only He can provide!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">And now the LORD is at the end of this long journey - He finally arrives and finds Himself weary with His travels. He sits down at the well that Jacob gave to his son, Joseph and rests. Here is God, weary in His humanity, needing rest and refreshment from that well. I can well imagine the noon-time sun beating down upon His sweat drenched brow - when a Samaritan woman approaches.<br /><br />Divine appointments indeed! We shall continue this next time, and in the meanwhile, let us pray for some divine appointments of those loved ones who are still lost in this world of sin and in dire need of an encounter with the Messiah of Israel, Jesus of Nazareth, Whom God has made "...both LORD and Christ..."</span>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-23455395229875002282017-03-28T21:02:00.002-07:002017-03-28T21:02:39.347-07:00A LETTER To The CHURCH-WOUNDED In “EXILE”<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://citydesert.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/solitary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://citydesert.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/solitary.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><u><b><span style="font-size: large;">A Special and Timely Message by Gregory Reid</span></b></u><span style="font-size: 17px;">: This is a very sensitive message, one I hope to convey with a heart of humility and grace, one I pray will bring a little healing to those who are hurting for reasons beyond your control or choosing.&nbsp;</span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are many who have passed through the fires of being “wounded in the house of a friend,” of being on the receiving end of rejection, misunderstanding and sometimes even dismissal or exile due to rancorous and painful church circumstances and dealings. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Few dare to speak of it, for fear of being viewed as a malcontent, a bitter soul, a troublemaker or worse. But truth be known, there are multitudes, both people and pastors, sheep and shepherds, who have been mangled by the machinery of church professional business dealings and decisions, especially in our purpose-driven and megachurch age. &nbsp;</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">For both leader and member, nothing stings more than realizing you have suddenly lost your place, your purpose, your “church family.” Yet for the sake of unity, God requires that you bear the pain of it and say not a word, though you be wronged, though your heart cries for understanding, though your flesh longs to lash out and wound those who have wounded you.&nbsp;</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many remain church-less, or without a pulpit, afraid to try again. Many have tried other churches – knowing they need to be in fellowship – only to find a church driven by the same machinery and business dealings that broke their lives and their hearts.&nbsp;</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many, though they would be too proud to admit it, still wait for a call, a text, something from someone in their former fellowship that says, </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“<i>You still matter. We miss you. We’re sorry if we hurt you</i>.” </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><u>But the call rarely if ever comes</u></b>. It is a desolate thing to be “cut off from the life of the church,” even though you are not cut off from the life of Jesus. One can feel as alone and desolate as Joseph who was sent away by his own family to a house of unfamiliar faces and to obscurity and an unknown future and calling.&nbsp;</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">My heart especially hurts for former or current pastors, youth pastors or church leaders and elders who were deemed too old-fashioned, too “<a href="http://theredpillconsortium.blogspot.com/2011/01/are-you-over-committed-to-gods-word.html">Word-based</a>,” not relevant enough, or young enough, exciting enough, etc. and found themselves given the “left foot of fellowship” – often with a smile, a wave and a parting gift (or not!) simply because PROGRESS must be made, and the new paradigm fairly demands that the old guard get off the stage. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">After all, we were told by the father of purpose-driven, “What do pillars do? They hold things up…” </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The sting when you realize it really is not personal, it is just a business decision “for the sake of the church” can be excruciating, indeed. You realize you were simply a broken cog in an apparatus, easily replaced. As I heard a pastor say after hosting a concert by a formerly sought-after Christian artist who now only saw small crowds, “Look what we have done to our treasures. Shame on us.”&nbsp;</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you have felt this – experienced this – if you have had to depart from a fellowship because of these changes, or for any reason that you did not foresee or even want – if you are in this Joseph-like place, few words can comfort, though Joseph’s story surely will. Still, this morning, <a href="https://archive.org/details/JosephBelovedHatedExaltedByF.B.MeyerMS1910">FB Meyer’s words</a> speak deeply:&nbsp;</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Though stripped of his coat, he had not been stripped of his character. See to it that no one rob you of that! Everything else may be replaced but that!”&nbsp;</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">God sees your heart, and your hurt. But as with Joseph, God’s main concern is not what was done to you but HOW YOU RESPOND. Though you may have lost your coat (place) never lose your character! Stay sweet. Refuse bitterness. Love and pray for those you no longer are able to even be with. As in Gene Edward’s A Tale of Three Kings, David said, “In my youth…I was David. In my old age, I will be David still. Even if it costs me a throne, a kingdom.”&nbsp;</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many have left fellowships under painful circumstances and leave bitter and angry, taking many with them, and starting a new fellowship (which rarely last long.) I do not believe this is God’s way, ever. If you have left, God requires the hardest thing – that you do so quietly and remain in love, in forgiveness, and in Jesus-like character.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">That is the coat of character no hard and painful circumstance can take away. Yield that coat and take on the mantle of bitterness, coldness, and anger, and all God was planning for you is at stake. Do not become an Absalom seeking a throne or a Saul seeking to throw spears. Remain a David, even in exile. Does not God surely have an unstoppable plan for you yet?&nbsp;</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Joseph –<a href="http://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2010/07/thoughts-from-aw-tozer-saints-often.html"> alone, abandoned by all but God</a>, remained Joseph – a sweet, godly young man even under unbearable grief, rejection, loss, and misunderstanding. And in the end – oh, in the end! God gave Joseph a coat of authority and purpose that only his humble, God-tested character could wear.&nbsp;</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">And in the end, even the injuries were made right, because he saw, “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good…” (<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">GENESIS 50:20</span></b>)&nbsp;</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I write this to those who may have or are feeling the “pain of exile” from a church or even family. God knows your heart. His plan for you has never changed. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">May God bless you with a new and precious fellowship with believers for whom the words “church family” are not just words but a way of life. May he grant you grace to forgive those you left behind who may indeed miss you, but who are so caught up in the busy work of church activity that they simply become swept up in the “out of sight, out of mind” way of such things. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Forgive those who injured, especially those who felt it was justified to do so. That may be the hardest. God requires it nonetheless. Wait…heal…trust…</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">If, after years of faithful service, you find yourself without a place, these words again from <a href="http://www.geneedwards.us/">A Tale of Three Kings </a>speak: </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“But today I shall give ample space for this untelling God of ours to show us His will. I know of no other way to bring about such an extraordinary event except by doing NOTHING! The throne is not mine. Not to have, not to take, not to protect, and not to keep.”&nbsp;</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">All things – and you, dear friend, are in His loving care. Wait…pray…heal...and hang on to the character of Jesus through it ALL. God is not through with you yet. The best is yet to be!&nbsp;</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">With Jesus’ grace and care,&nbsp;</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gregory R Gregory Reid</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gregoryreid.com/">www.gregoryreid.com</a></span></span></div>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-35558694015768035422017-03-19T18:59:00.000-07:002017-03-19T18:59:10.865-07:00ONCE A SLAVE, ALWAYS A SLAVE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://usercontent2.hubstatic.com/3416246_f496.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="371" src="https://usercontent2.hubstatic.com/3416246_f496.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>SLAVERY</b>. The very word produces images of chains, whips, abject conditions of poverty and near starvation.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Our own American history is stained with deplorable treatment of Africans who were brought to our shores and suffered bondage for generations. They were deemed ignorant and inferior and thus, suitable for nothing else but slavery.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">We like to think that here in the 21st century that we are more sophisticated and have higher sensibilities, but the fact of the matter is that slavery is still very much a reality. Enlistment into slavery of 'infidels' is still deemed a right <a href="http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/pages/quran/slavery.aspx">by the Quran</a> and the followers of Mohammad. Also, vast networks of illegal human trafficking that induct people into slavery (which <a href="http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/resource/human-trafficking-numbers">according to statistics</a>, as of 2014 included 21 million victims worldwide) is happening all around us!!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">In&nbsp;<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">REV 18:13</span></b> it mentions,</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, <u>and slaves</u>, and souls of men</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">And also:</span><br /><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>REV 13:16</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free <u>and bond</u>, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads</span></b>: (see also <b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">REV 6:15</span></b>).</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">So Scripture states that even in the last days, slavery will be a fact of life; certainly the aforementioned statistics indicates such an increasing trend.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">This post is about the slavery of the worst kind - slavery into sin. Slavery into sin takes on many forms - including various addictions to alcohol, drugs, sex, gambling and others.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">In AA and similar groups, it is stated that once you develop any such addiction, it is with you <i>for the rest of your life</i>. You can <i>never be free of such things</i>, but always - as long as you don't succumb to it - "in a state of recovery".</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Biblically speaking, it is true that a sinner will always be prone to and enslaved by sin. There is no hope that they will be set free of such slavery by any ability of their own. It is an inescapable inherent nature brought to the human race by the fall of Adam.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>ROMANS 6:16a<br />Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death</b></span> . . .&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>ROMANS 5:12-14<br />12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:</b></span><br /><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><i>But this is not at all to say that we sinners can never be free of the sins and addictions that enslave us. The LORD Jesus said:</i><br /><br /><b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">LUKE 4:18 <br />The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach <u>deliverance to the captives</u>, and recovering of sight to the blind, to <u>set at liberty them that are bruised</u></span></b>,</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">JOHN 8:36<br />36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, <u>ye shall be free indeed</u></span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">As saints, born of the Spirit of God, we are free from the law of sin and death:<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">ROMANS 8:1-2</span></b></span><br /><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">And we are to stand fast in the freedom and liberty that Christ won for us by His own blood and atoning sacrifice on the Cross:<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">GAL 5:1<br />Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage</span></b>&nbsp;(See also <b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">REV 5:9</span></b>).</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">As citizens of the Kingdom of God, we need not ever experience bondage to sin and death; this is not to say that as God's children, who bear the nature of Christ within, that we do not still have a sin nature: this is the essence of what our fallen bodies are about. <br />We are absolutely the redeemed of the LORD, whose hearts are redeemed and sanctified; our minds are likewise in the process of being redeemed and sanctified daily as we renew them by the power of God's grace (<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">ROM 12:1-2</span></b>). Our bodies have not yet been redeemed (but they will be! <b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">ROM 8:22-24</span></b>) and that is why there is an ongoing war against our flesh and the Spirit of God (<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">GAL 5:16-17</span></b>).</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">But we have the comfort of knowing that as long as we are walking in the Spirit (basically that's living our lives in following Christ's example) we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">GAL 5:16</span></b>), and we are free of getting entangled in any besetting sins.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">WE ARE NO LONGER SLAVES - <i><u>OR ARE WE</u>?</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">The concept of a slave in one sense is that of a person bound in chains and misery, suffering indignities and oppression.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Certainly anyone who is bound to sin as its slave (and without the Spirit of Christ) won't see it that way - at least not at first; they can have their fill of "sex and drugs and rock 'n roll" and all the pleasures of this world - and not for a moment think that they are a slave but living 'the high life'.<br /><br />Until their choice of recreational drug becomes so addictive, that they live only to feed that addiction - even if it means stealing to get it. Until they contract a venereal disease that ruins their lives. Until after years of 'party hearty' it takes its toll on their body. Until their associations and friendships (based on the gang-kind of lifestyle for example) abandon them when serious trouble falls.<br /><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span><b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">ROM 6:23a<br />The wages of sin is death</span> . . .&nbsp;</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">And that can mean the death of a marriage or other relationship, the death of family ties, the death of financial security, the death of social standing, the death of health - or just plain death. Ultimately it will mean spiritual death (what the Bible calls "the second death" (<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">REV 20:14</span></b>).) and that is the ultimate fruit of sin.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">But there is another kind of slavery, that of servanthood: In the Law given to Israel, anytime someone became indebted to another and had no money to pay the debt, they would lend their services to them. Once they worked long enough, they were freed from service. But there were times when the servant realized that life was better serving their master than it was when they were out on their own. They loved their master, and his family; they were contend with their lodgings and the allotment of food and clothing they were given.<br /><br />They would commit themselves to their master as a life-long servant. This was known as a <a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/bondservant.html">bond servant or a doulos</a>. They would pierce their ear and place a gold earring in it, and that was an emblem that everyone understood: this was a person wholly devoted to their master - to ever and always fulfill their will and not their own will (<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">EXOD 21:5-6</span></b>).<br /><br />'Slavery in Christ' is nothing like slavery to sin; it is a satisfying, albeit challenging life which is ultimately blessed in both the fruit borne of the Spirit as well as in the relationship of every saint who so pledges themselves to the LORD God and Jesus Christ. We are yoked together with Christ and thereby learn of Him (<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">MATT 11:28-30</span></b>).</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Being a slave of Christ means that I am "dead" to myself: my desires, my objectives, my ambitions and plans, my loves and affections - and I am alive to Christ and find that His desires, objectives, ambitions, plans, loves and affections are growing in my life. And THIS is life more abundant (<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">JOHN 10:10</span></b>)!<br /><br />We are in a spiritual sense, "dead men walking - in the Spirit" - dead to self and alive to God, "perfecting holiness" (<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">ROM 6:11</span>; <span style="color: #6fa8dc;">2 COR 7:1</span>;&nbsp;</b></span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">GAL 2:20</span></b>).</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">It's very much like Bob Dylan sang, "Ya gotta serve somebody" - and we will either serve sin, being intent on 'doing our own thing' and thereby denying God as our Creator His purpose for our lives - or serve the LORD.<br /><br />It's just a matter of determining whose slave you are; but a slave you are and always will be: either Christ's or sin's.<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">So whose slave are YOU?</span><br style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">For more on this, watch this teaching on&nbsp;</span><b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">ROMANS 6</span></b><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">:</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>DEAD MEN WALKING - IN THE SPIRIT</b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6YyqbSNPqWM/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6YyqbSNPqWM?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">May the LORD bless you all, the saints of the living God, way too much!!</span>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-90895969540148934142016-11-05T09:42:00.000-07:002016-11-05T09:43:59.722-07:00JEWELS From The GOSPEL Of JOHN: YOU ARE MY SON, SHINE! - JOHN 3:34-36<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbclexyouth.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/the-gospel-according-to-john.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://fbclexyouth.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/the-gospel-according-to-john.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. These articles will not run contiguously on this blog but peppered throughout and in the midst of other articles (though some might be posted consecutively). I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><u>JOHN 3:34-36</u><br />34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><b style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"For he whom God hath sent..."</b><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">God the Father sent His Son to this fallen world. I can't even begin to imagine what it must have been like for the LORD Jesus - to leave the holy atmosphere of Heaven, with all of its purity, glory and goodness and come to this dank, depressing, lost world reeking with putrid sin and corruption. Nevertheless, He came and willingly so, out of a heart of love for us!<br /><br />He came not in His own Name, but in the Name of the Father (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 5:43</span></b>) and sent by His authority. The LORD Jesus is <i>The</i> Apostle (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">HEB 3:1</span></b>) and as we know, the word '<i>apostle</i>' means 'sent one', that is, 'one who is sent on some mission or purpose'.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">The LORD Jesus Himself appointed His apostles, and these were witnesses of His life, including His teachings and miracles, His character and holy nature, as well as His death and His resurrection - just as the LORD Jesus was the witness of God the Father to this blind world.<br /><br />We saints, members of His body, are in a sense, apostles - or more specifically, have an <i>apostolic calling</i> in whatever ministry He has us serving Him in - because we are sent by the LORD for that purpose or mission in ministry and are His witnesses to the Truth of His Word and His Gospel.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><b style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him..."&nbsp;</b><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Upon the LORD Jesus, the Father gave an unmeasured anointing of the Holy Spirit (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">LUKE 4:18</span></b>) - that is, our Savior was granted the 'full-to-overflowing' measure of the Holy Spirit. There is much talk about being 'Spirit-filled' particularly among <i>neo-Pentecostals</i>, and they attribute their often bizarre actions and behavior 'to the work of the Spirit', but if one wants to know what being 'Spirit-filled' looks like, one needn't go anywhere else than to our example of Jesus! Amen?</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">And He used the power of the Spirit, not to accomplish things for His own selfish interests or promotion (as is too, too often the case with those who claim to be 'Spirit-filled') but to "<i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">preach the gospel to the poor;. . . to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,&nbsp;</span></i></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">To preach the acceptable year of the Lord</span></i>"</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><b style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"he ... speaketh the words of God..."</b><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">The anointing of the Spirit will not provide for us 'new revelation' which those leaders of the <i><a href="http://www.letusreason.org/latrain21.htm">New Apostolic Reformation movement</a></i> claim (for an excellent article explaining this cult, click on this preceding link!). <br />If we are truly led of the Spirit, then we will speak God's own words (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 COR 14:36-37</span></b>), as recorded in Holy Scripture; the exclusive truth-source of God's entire revelation to us (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 17:17</span></b>). Any supposed prophecy or declaration that any would claim is from God <u><i>must</i> be compared to the holy Word of the Bible and if it doesn't line up, it <i>must</i> be rejected as false</u>!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><b style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand..."</b><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Just as the Father has given all things into the nail-pierced hands of His Son, the LORD Jesus - the LORD Himself will give us our inheritance through His atoning justification of our souls, out of His heart of love! AMAZING (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROM 8:17</span></b>)! The Father has granted all judgment of all creation - man and angel alike - to the LORD (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 5:22-23</span></b>) and likewise, the LORD will grant to us His church the position of judging alongside with Him (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 COR 6:2-3; REV 2:26-27</span></b>)!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life..."</span></b><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">"Believ[ing] on the Son" is far more than mere intellectual agreement and assent to doctrinal truth - it is a matter of genuine faith and trust in the Person of Jesus Christ for the saving of the soul - it is an implicit offering of oneself to the LORD with a heart of repentance, yearning, devotion, submission and obedience that is the first step to a living, vital relationship with Jesus as LORD and Savior. For those who express such faith, they are recipients of the Spirit of God and thus "everlasting life" as reborn children of God (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 3:3; 1 PETER 1:23</span></b>).<br /><br />None of us are children of God inherently at our natural birth; we must be born a second time, spiritually to become God's children (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 1:12-13</span></b>). To neglect to do so, means that one remains in the natural state of sinfulness, due to being a child of Adam - who fell into sin at the beginning and thereby brought the curse of sin and death upon the entirety of humanity (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROM 5:12</span></b>).</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">"...he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him..."</span></b><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">The offer of salvation through the LORD Jesus Christ and His redemption as our <a href="http://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2015/10/our-kinsman-goel-our-redeemer-jesus.html">Kinsman-Redeemer</a> still stands. He offers His salvation in extending that nail-pierced Hand of His. <br />If one rejects this offer to the end (whether that is the end of one's own physical life in this world or the end of this age of the church when we that belong to the LORD are raptured out from this planet and go Home; <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 THESS 4:16-18; 1 COR 15:52-54</span></b>), then that soul will continue uninterrupted, unimpeded on their course to eternal destruction in <a href="http://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2009/04/as-sure-as-hell.html">hell</a> where "the wrath of God [will] abide upon [them]".</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">May those of us who have indeed expressed such living faith (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JAMES 2:18</span></b>) that is evidenced by a life of Spirit-produced fruit (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 15:4-5</span></b>) rejoice in that we have everlasting life, destined for the glories of heaven that revolves solely around the Person of our Precious LORD Jesus Christ! Such everlasting life is beyond our full experience and comprehension in our present state, but we shall know the fulsome and profound love, joy and peace once we step out of this temporal world of sin and decay and step into the kingdom of heaven, "and forever shall we be with the LORD" (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 THESS 4:17</span></b>)!</span>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-89384437143466606022016-09-05T15:10:00.000-07:002016-09-05T15:14:39.423-07:00JEWELS From The GOSPEL Of JOHN: TESTIMONY TIME! - JOHN 3:31-33<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbclexyouth.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/the-gospel-according-to-john.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://fbclexyouth.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/the-gospel-according-to-john.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. These articles will not run contiguously on this blog but peppered throughout and in the midst of other articles (though some might be posted consecutively). I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>JOHN 3:31-33</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.</b></span><br /><b><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"></span></b><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">We returned to Jerusalem and listened to the conversation between the LORD Jesus and Nicodemus, in the stillness of that night, the last time. And now John the apostle adds some Holy Spirit inspired commentary in the remainder of this chapter. The youngest of His followers, that "disciple whom Jesus loved" speaks of the One Who came down from above...</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">This is the One Who is "above all" - He is LORD of all; LORD over creation, over the human and angelic races, over all atomic material in the microscopic realm and over all of celestial bodies in the macro-cosmic realm. And since He is LORD and Creator GOD, He justly deploys His Holy Law. He is the Ultimate and Final Authority, incontestable and resolute regarding truth and grace, as well as His eternal domain.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">This is contrasted with those who are of the Earth - we who are formed from the clay of the earth, "earthly" who speaks of matters of this world. Any of us are qualified to speak of the things of Earth, since we live here and experience life here on a daily basis.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>1 CORINTHIANS 13:45-47</b></span><br /><b><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"></span></b><br /><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.47 The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven</span></b>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">That which He has seen - in the Holy Halls of Heaven - and heard there - the voice of the Father, the incessant worship of glorious angels, prostrate before the very Throne of their Creator; knowing that domain of Deity, as He is Himself the fullness of the Godhead (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">COL 2:9-10</span></b>) - He testifies to the truth of all of it before the human race - and yet His testimony is not received!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">To testify is to bear witness; the <a href="http://www.english-for-students.com/test.html">prefix of <i>testimony</i></a> as well as <i>testament</i>&nbsp;(<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 26:28; 1 COR 11:25</span></b>) means (Latin: <i>testari</i>): ". . . bear witness. Do not confuse this root <i>test</i> with the word which means examination. It is true that when you take an examination you are a witness for your own knowledge and, unless you cheat, you are showing what you do or don’t know. However, here the word means a solemn telling of the truth of what you know, bearing witness for truth’s sake."&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">The LORD knows all things, most especially is His knowledge of that which is most bereft in ourselves: true spiritual knowledge (as opposed to mystical/demonic knowledge - occult knowledge). The LORD told Nicodemus so earlier in the chapter:&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>JOHN 3:11-13</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.</b></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?</b></span><br /><b><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"></span></b><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven</span></b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">If I were to plan a trip to a far off exotic land that I've never visited before, and much to my astounded pleasure, encounter a citizen of that land before my departure, I would avidly listen to everything they could tell me about that place - acknowledging them as an authority. Yet the LORD of Heaven is given little heed about that glorious domain and how to get there (<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-weight: bold;">JOHN 3:3,5</span>;<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">14:6</span></b>).</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">While most did not receive His testimony, there were some blessed exceptions (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 1:11-13</span></b>) - those of His disciples who were truly converted, testifying themselves of Christ (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ACTS 1:8</span></b>): some from their own crosses (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 23:24</span></b>)!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">This is the case where <a href="https://theeyesoffaith.wordpress.com/2015/06/22/gods-righteousness-vs-religion/">religion contends and strives against the righteous truth</a>; the LORD Jesus faithfully testified of the Kingdom of heaven and the Holy Scriptures, and without exception, the religious leadership contested with Him - not receiving, but rejecting His witness as well as His Gospel.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Today it is no different: no higher authority can one possibly appeal to than the very Word of God; the Author of Truth - and yet never before perhaps in all history have the Scriptures been more heinously disparaged than in today's ecumenically correct, post-modernist, and emergent church-promotional world!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">How terribly offensive it must be to the Person of Truth, the very embodiment of Truth to be rejected and not believed; whose very words are looked upon as deception! It is the very rebellious spirit of Babylon reborn, in which people began to speak out against the Name of the LORD!&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">There is coming a day however, when the LORD, the JUDGE of the Earth, shall offer up testimony to the Truth, laying charges against this Rebel Planet and meting out justice, where He was once willing to bestow grace (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 1:14</span></b>).</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">May we likewise bear testimony to the Truth of the Gospel and of the coming Judgment (<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 3:18-20</span></b>) as faithful witnesses of and for our LORD!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0